Indirect exposure to gun violence linked to reduced quality of life in four different domains

A recent study published in the Journal of Urban Health reveals that even indirect exposure to gun violence—such as witnessing or hearing about shootings—is associated with a diminished quality of life for individuals living near these incidents. The study suggests that exposure to gun violence impacts people’s physical, psychological, social, and environmental well-being, even if they themselves are not directly injured. This sheds light on the far-reaching impacts of gun violence on communities, suggesting that its effects extend well beyond traditional victim counts.

Every year, tens of thousands of Americans are affected by gun-related incidents, which include not only homicides and injuries but also non-lethal threats and witnessing shootings. While those directly injured by gun violence face physical and psychological challenges, many others who are indirectly exposed—such as those witnessing a shooting or knowing a victim—also experience substantial distress.

Researchers from the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University conducted their study to explore these less visible effects of gun violence. They recognized that while there is extensive data on the physical and mental health challenges faced by people directly injured in gun violence incidents, less is known about the broader impacts on community members who live near or hear about these events.

“Studies have previously examined the relationship between gun violence and specific health outcomes (for example, sleep or a PTSD diagnosis). But health is more than these specific outcomes and incorporates broad aspects of well-being and quality of life. Therefore, we wanted to study how exposure to gun violence was associated with five different types of quality of life (overall, physical, psychological, social, and environmental),” said lead author Jennifer Paruk, a research associate at the research center.

To investigate these effects, the researchers recruited participants from nine diverse states in the United States—Mississippi, New Jersey, Colorado, Texas, Minnesota, Washington, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Florida. The final sample (7,785 participants) included individuals from varied backgrounds to ensure broad representation across racial, economic, and geographic lines.

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The data collection took place in June and July 2023 through the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, a national online survey panel, where participants received an invitation to complete a survey. The survey included questions drawn from the World Health Organization’s Quality of Life Scale, a tool designed to capture people’s perceptions of their well-being in different life domains. Participants were asked to reflect on the past two weeks and rate aspects such as their physical health, mental wellness, satisfaction with personal relationships, and feelings about their environment.

The study specifically explored four types of gun violence exposure: (1) being threatened with a firearm, (2) being shot, (3) knowing a friend or family member who was shot, and (4) witnessing or hearing about shootings in the neighborhood. By categorizing these experiences, the researchers aimed to differentiate the impacts of direct, indirect, and cumulative exposure to gun violence.

The results showed a clear connection between gun violence exposure and lower quality of life. Of the forms of exposure, witnessing or hearing about a neighborhood shooting was the most common, reported by 22% of participants. People who reported this form of exposure experienced reduced quality of life in all areas studied, including physical, psychological, social, and environmental well-being.

“This study shows that even indirectly experiencing gun violence is associated with lower quality of life,” Paruk told PsyPost. “Those who witnessed/heard about shootings in their neighborhoods reported lower scores in all types of quality of life. Reducing gun violence can improve numerous aspects of community well-being.”

The researchers found that exposure to multiple forms of gun violence, or cumulative exposure, was linked to even greater reductions in quality of life. For instance, individuals who had experienced three or more types of exposure reported significantly lower scores in physical health, social connections, and environmental satisfaction. This pattern suggests that the more gun violence one encounters, the greater the toll on overall well-being, highlighting what the researchers describe as a “dose-response” relationship.

“Across all types of quality of life, those with the most exposure to gun violence report the lowest quality of life,” Paruk said.

In terms of numbers, witnessing or hearing about shootings was associated with a 2.33% decrease in overall quality of life. Each additional type of exposure further decreased scores across various life domains. For instance, cumulative gun violence exposure led to an 11% reduction in physical quality of life, emphasizing that indirect exposure alone can have significant physical consequences.

This may be due to chronic stress responses—such as heightened vigilance and reduced movement within one’s neighborhood—related to fear and concern over personal safety. The findings point to the likelihood that indirect exposure to violence may impact community members at a cellular level, producing physical stress markers over time that can have long-term effects on health.

Despite its valuable insights, this study is not without limitations. First, the survey data collected is cross-sectional, meaning it only represents a snapshot in time rather than a cause-and-effect relationship. Additionally, the study focused on a limited number of states, so the results might differ if conducted on a national scale or in other regions.

Furthermore, while the researchers took multiple demographic factors into account, there may be other influences on quality of life that were not controlled for, such as personal coping mechanisms or community support systems. Lastly, only a small percentage of participants (2%) reported having been directly injured by gun violence, so it is challenging to assess the specific impacts of direct physical injuries on quality of life from this dataset.

Looking ahead, the researchers suggest that further studies could investigate the long-term impacts of cumulative gun violence exposure and how different forms of exposure impact quality of life over time. They are also interested in understanding how people’s coping strategies and available community resources might mitigate or amplify these effects. This could involve exploring whether support groups, neighborhood interventions, or policy changes can alleviate some of the stress that gun violence places on communities.

“This study is part of a larger goal at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center (GVRC) to better understand how gun violence affects mental and physical health,” Paruk said. “We are currently analyzing the results of a nationally representative survey, studying in-depth how the frequency and recency of different types of gun violence exposure are associated with mental and physical health. Stay tuned to the NJ GVRC for findings!”

The study, “Gun Violence Exposure and Quality of Life in Nine US States,” was authored by Jennifer Paruk and Daniel Semenza.