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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
Katherine A. Vittes, MPH, School of Public Health, University of California at Los Angeles, Violence Prevention Research Group, 650 S. Charles E. Young Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-825-8749, kavittes@ucla.edu
Background
Research shows that most adults are concerned about firearm violence and support more restrictive firearm policies. Even the majority of gun-owning adults support many such measures. Until now, however, there has not been a national survey of the attitudes of adolescents toward firearm policies. The focus of this work is to compare adolescents' attitudes about firearm policies with those of adults.
Methods
Data were drawn from two national surveys. The Hamilton Youth and Guns Poll is the first to ask a national sample of high school students (N=1,005) about their attitudes concerning firearms and related policies. The National Opinion Research Center's Gun Policy survey, in collaboration with Johns Hopkins University, has conducted national surveys of between 1,182 and 1,204 adults four times since 1996. Question wording was similar in the high school and adult surveys. The attitudes of adolescents' regarding firearm violence and policy were compared with those of adults.
Results
The majority of adolescents and adults express support for firearm policies. Both groups show similar demographic trends (e.g., females are more likely than males to support gun policies). Demographic differences in attitudes about firearm policy among adults are also observed among adolescents but to a lesser extent.
Conclusions
A majority of adolescents and adults support more restrictive firearm policies. Adolescents, in general, are more supportive than adults of most measures.
Learning Objectives: After the presentation, audience members will be able
Keywords: Firearms, Adolescents
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.