Does Household Gun Access Increase the Risk of Attempted Suicide?: Evidence From a National Sample of Adolescents. (September 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Watkins, Adam M.; Lizotte, Alan J.
• Is Part Of: Youth & society. Volume 45:Number 3(2013)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 346
• Publication Date: 2013-09
• Subjects: mental health -- longitudinal design -- suicide -- firearms; Youth -- Periodicals; 305.235
• DOI: 10.1177/0044118X11417735
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0044-118X

Abstract

The aim of this research is to assess if home firearm access increases the risk of nonfatal suicidal attempts among adolescents. Such a gun focus has largely been limited to case-control studies on completed suicides. This line of research has found that household gun access increases the risk of suicide due to features of available firearms (e.g., provide little time for rescue). We extend this "risk factor" perspective to the study of nonfatal suicide attempts among a national sample of adolescents. Current findings reveal that home handgun access, but not long gun only access, is associated with an increased risk of attempted suicide in cross-sectional models. In panel models, however, we find no significant association between home firearm access (of any gun type) and risk of attempted suicide. The implications of these findings for research on suicidal behavior among adolescents are discussed.