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The effects of gun violence on anxiety in a neighborhood
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Berretta, Gianna. The effects of gun violence on anxiety in a neighborhood. Retrieved from https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-wb43-5p28

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TitleThe effects of gun violence on anxiety in a neighborhood
NameBerretta, Gianna (author); Stansfield, Richard (chair); Tosh, Sarah (member); Napolitano, Laura (member); Rutgers University; Graduate School - Camden
Date Created2022
Other Date2022-05 (degree)
SubjectCriminology, Assault and battery -- Psychological aspects, Firearms
Extent35 pages
DescriptionMany of America’s cities are experiencing a significant rise in gun violence, particularly in low-income communities of color. The daily threat of gun violence can have profound negative effects on friends and family of victims, social workers trying to care for the community, and community members broadly. While there is disagreement about the sources of rising gun violence (Rosenfield et al., 2021), some scholars point to the other traumatic events that have occurred since 2020, such as COVID-19 and strained police-community relations, which may have contributed to the increase in shootings. This may be the case in some communities in Philadelphia already besieged with strain, limited opportunity, and high rates of gun violence connected with open air drug market activity (Roman & Johnson, 2022). To assess the health implications of community trauma and exposure to gun violence, I analyzed data collected as part of a larger project from respondents of a high-crime/high-drug activity community in Eastern Philadelphia. The survey consisted of close-ended questions that had limited answer options or numeric answers that were analyzed statistically. Responses were analyzed for themes and patterns regarding community trauma and generalized anxiety. The results showed that exposure to gun violence is associated with higher generalized anxiety, although other traumas such as perceptions of police brutality were not. Perceptions that police were working with the community were associated with lower anxiety for women but not men. Longer residency in the area was also associated with more anxiety. This study aims to share the ways in which the severe amount of gun violence has negatively impacted the mental health of all of its community members.
The results showed significant correlation to fear of crime from gun violence. The heightened fears could be reduced by collective efficacy and protection from the police. Some of the results revealed that older women with children were more likely to be fearful of gun violence than men; people who have lived in the area longer reported to have more anxiety from gun violence; 76% of respondents reported that they have been exposed to gun violence before.
NoteM.A.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttps://doi.org/doi:10.7282/t3-wb43-5p28
LanguageEnglish
CollectionCamden Graduate School Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.
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