Adverse childhood experiences and defensive gun use: The indirect role of threat sensitivity and depressive symptoms
Objective:
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) have been linked to various detrimental life outcomes, including an increase in threat sensitivity and depressive symptoms. Studies have also found an association between ACEs and firearm ownership. To date, no study has assessed whether ACEs have direct or indirect effects on defensive gun use (DGU) through these risk factors.
Method:
This study used structural equation modeling to estimate the role of threat sensitivity and depressive symptoms in the direct and indirect relationships between ACEs and DGU in a subsample of adults with firearm access (n = 3130) drawn from a recent, nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.
Project Status:
Completed
Principal Investigators:
Sultan Altikriti, Daniel Semenza, Alexander Testa, Dylan Jackson, and Michael Anestis.