Citation

Bergen-Cico D, Lane SD, Keefe RH, Larsen DA, Panasci A, Salaam N, Jennings-Bey T, Rubinstein RA. Soc. Work Public Health 2018; 33(7-8): 439-448.

Affiliation

Department of Anthropology & International Relations, Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs , Syracuse University , Syracuse , New York , USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/19371918.2018.1543627

PMID

30427288

Abstract

The association of indirect exposure to firearm-related violence and standardized test scores among third grade elementary school children were analyzed using geospatial mapping of police department data for all gunshots in Syracuse, NY (n = 2, 127) and state standardized test scores from 2009-2015. Confirmed gunshots were geocoded and mapped across the city and neighborhood school catchment areas. Third grade standardized New York State test scores for English Language Arts (ELA) and math were coded as dichotomous variables of proficient and below proficient scores. State standardized test scores for ELA and math were found to be 50% lower in the elementary schools located within higher concentration gunshot areas, than in elementary schools in lower gunshot areas. Higher levels of gun violence within school catchment areas were significantly associated with higher rates of ELA and math failure (p ≤.05). These findings suggest that community violence may be an important, though under recognized, social determinant of poor school performance.

Language: en

Keywords

Community violence; educational attainment; school failure; social determinants of health