Why some parents made firearms more accessible during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic: results from a national study.
J Behav Med
; 44(6): 867-873, 2021 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1321781
ABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to assess parents' firearm storage behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic and characterize reasons why some parents made their firearms more accessible during this time. In June-July 2020, the study team conducted the FACTS National Survey-a cross-sectional, web-based, survey of 2,924 parents and their teens (ages14-18) regarding firearm-related practices. We weighted descriptive analyses to be nationally representative of parents of teens in the United States. We utilized qualitative thematic analysis to identify parents' reasons for making firearms more accessible. Five percent of firearm-owning parents of teens reported making their firearms more accessible during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reasons why parents increased the ease of firearm access included (1) Increased civil unrest and riots; (2) Threat of home invasion and/or crime victimization; (3) Fear of panic and the unknown; and (4) Easier access and greater protection, threat unspecified. Some parents-largely motivated by fear-chose to store firearms in a more accessible manner during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to protect their family against possible external threats. Understanding the fear that motivates parents' decisions regarding storage practices might aid interventions focused on harm reduction and safer storage.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Firearms
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Qualitative research
/
Randomized controlled trials
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Humans
Country/Region as subject:
North America
Language:
English
Journal:
J Behav Med
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S10865-021-00243-9
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