@article{ref1,
title="Gun violence exposure and experiences of depression among mothers",
journal="Prevention science",
year="2021",
author="Rivara, Frederick P. and Leibbrand, Christine and Rowhani-Rahbar, Ali",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="Gun violence is a uniquely prevalent issue in the USA that disproportionately affects disadvantaged families already at risk of health disparities. Despite the  traumatic nature of witnessing gun violence, we have little knowledge of whether  exposure to local gun violence is associated with higher risks of depression among  mothers, whose symptoms of depression are likely to have spillover effects for kin. We examined the association between exposure to gun violence in mothers'  neighborhoods and their experiences of depression using longitudinal Fragile  Families and Child Wellbeing Study data (n = 4587) in tandem with lagged outcome and  fixed effect models. We find that mothers who witness at least one shooting in their  neighborhoods or local communities exhibit more symptoms of depression and are  32-60% more likely to meet criteria for depression than mothers who do not witness a  shooting. We also find that witnessing a shooting is associated with increases in  parental aggravation, which is partially mediated by maternal depression. Given this  and other previously documented spillover effects of mothers' mental health on  children and family members, these findings have important implications for mothers'  wellbeing and their kin. Further, we observe substantial racial and socioeconomic  disparities in exposure to gun violence, suggesting that gun violence may heighten  health disparities and drawing attention to the importance of providing mental  health resources in communities that are most affected by gun violence.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1389-4986",
doi="10.1007/s11121-020-01202-7",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11121-020-01202-7"
}