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Predictors of transitions in firearm assault behavior among drug-using youth presenting to an urban emergency department

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Abstract

Risk and protective factors for firearm assault (FA) have been established, but little is known about factor preceding transitions in FA behavior. We modeled covariate effects on individuals’ transitions in FA behavior (Yes/No) using inhomogeneous, continuous-time, Markov Chains. 3287 assessments were made across five initial biannual follow-ups, and two additional biannual follow-ups (an average of 2.2 years later) from a follow-on study; 2687 pairs of transitions were observed (2414 No-FA → No-FA; 89 No-FA → FA; 121 FA → No-FA; 63 FA → FA). Non-firearm peer violence (HR = 2.31, 95% CI [1.28,4.21]), firearm victimization (HR = 2.57, 95% CI [1.31,5.04]), and marijuana ASSIST sum (HR = 1.27, 95% CI [1.05,1.54]) all preceded transitions into FA, but not transitions out of FA. Delinquent peer associations both hastened transitions into FA (HR = 1.19, 95% CI [1.00,1.40]) and slowed transitions out of FA (HR = 0.84, 95% CI:[0.72,1.00]), with analogous findings regarding attitudes favoring retaliation. Efforts to prevent FA initiation should focus on those currently reporting firearm violence victimization, and on factors indicating an escalating delinquency trajectory (e.g. non-firearm violence, substance use), while programs focusing on peer influences and social norms may be effective at preventing FA regardless of current FA status.

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Funding

This work was funded by R03 AA025449 (PI: Goldstick), R01 DA024646 (PI: Cunningham), R01 DA035183 (PI: Cunningham), and R24HD087149 (PI: Cunningham).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Michigan, E Medical Center Drive, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Jason E. Goldstick, Patrick M. Carter & Rebecca M. Cunningham

  2. Injury Prevention Center, University of Michigan, 2800 Plymouth Road, Suite B10-G080, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2800, USA

    Jason E. Goldstick, Patrick M. Carter, Justin E. Heinze, Maureen A. Walton, Marc Zimmerman & Rebecca M. Cunningham

  3. Youth Violence Prevention Center, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 1415 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Patrick M. Carter, Justin E. Heinze, Marc Zimmerman & Rebecca M. Cunningham

  4. Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, University of Michigan School of Public Health, 109 South Observatory Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109-2019, USA

    Justin E. Heinze, Marc Zimmerman & Rebecca M. Cunningham

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of Michigan School of Medicine, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Maureen A. Walton

  6. University of Michigan Addiction Center, 4250 Plymouth Road, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA

    Maureen A. Walton

  7. Department of Emergency Medicine, Hurley Medical Center, 1 Hurley Plaza, Flint, MI, 48503, USA

    Rebecca M. Cunningham

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  1. Jason E. Goldstick
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  2. Patrick M. Carter
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Correspondence to Jason E. Goldstick.

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Jason E. Goldstick, Patrick M. Carter, Justin E. Heinze, Maureen A. Walton, Marc Zimmerman, and Rebecca M. Cunningham have no conflicts of interest to report.

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All procedures were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent (and parental consent with youth assent for participants under 18) was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Goldstick, J.E., Carter, P.M., Heinze, J.E. et al. Predictors of transitions in firearm assault behavior among drug-using youth presenting to an urban emergency department. J Behav Med 42, 635–645 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00021-8

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