Objective:
Firearm sales have surged during COVID-19, raising concerns about a coming wave of suicide deaths. Little is known, however, about the individuals considering acquiring firearms during the pandemic. Recent research has highlighted that individuals considering acquiring firearms may be motivated by exaggerated threat expectancies. The year 2020 featured an unprecedented surge in firearm sales. In this study, we examined what factors predicted which individuals were considering purchasing firearms in the upcoming year (assessed in June/July 2020). Black individuals, first responders, essential workers, and those with past year suicidal thoughts were more likely to be planning to purchase firearms (vs being undecided or planning not to purchase). Most importantly, those planning to purchase firearms reported more stress related to COVID-19, general intolerance of uncertainty, and a tendency to view the world as threatening and other people as not worthy of trust. These findings speak to a sense of anxiety as driving firearm purchasing behavior during a time of increased sales.
Method:
In a sample of 3,500 Americans matched to 2010 United States Census data, we compared individuals intending to buy firearms in the coming 12 months (assessed in late June and early July 2020) to those undecided or not planning to acquire firearms on a range of demographic, anxiety, and firearm ownership variables.
Project Status:
Completed
Principal Investigator (PI):
Michael D. Anestis, PhD, Craig J. Bryan, PsyD ABPP