@article{ref1,
title="Suicidal ideation among individuals who have purchased firearms during COVID-19",
journal="American journal of preventive medicine",
year="2020",
author="Anestis, Michael D. and Bond, Allison E. and Daruwala, Samantha E. and Bandel, Shelby L. and Bryan, Craig J.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="INTRODUCTION: Given the increase in firearm purchases during the COVID-19 pandemic,  this study seeks to determine the extent to which COVID-19 firearm purchasers differ  in terms of suicide risk from nonfirearm owners and firearm owners who did not make  a purchase during COVID-19. <br><br>METHODS: Participants (N=3,500) were recruited through  Qualtrics Panels to participate in an online survey examining methods for  self-protection. ANCOVAs were utilized to assess suicidal ideation. Multivariate  ANCOVAs were used to examine firearm storage practices and storage changes during  COVID-19. Data were collected in late June and early July 2020, and analyses were  conducted in July 2020. <br><br>RESULTS: Individuals who purchased a firearm during COVID-19  more frequently reported lifetime, past-year, and past-month suicidal ideation than  nonfirearm owners and firearm owners who did not make a purchase during COVID-19. COVID-19 purchasers with lifetime ideation were less likely to hide loaded firearms  in a closet than those without lifetime ideation. COVID-19 purchasers with past-year  or past-month ideation were more likely to use locking devices than COVID-19  purchasers without past-month ideation. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to firearm owners  more generally, COVID-19 firearm purchasers appear far more likely to have  experienced suicidal ideation and appear less likely to use certain unsafe firearm  storage methods but also report a greater number of storage changes during COVID-19  that made firearms less secure. Future research should seek to further understand  those who purchased a firearm during COVID-19 and determine ways to increase secure  storage among firearm owners.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0749-3797",
doi="10.1016/j.amepre.2020.10.013",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2020.10.013"
}