Defensive Behaviors During COVID-19 and the 2020–2021 Firearm Purchasing Surge: A Latent Class Analysis

Objective: This study examined the extent to which political beliefs and public health behaviors cluster together and define distinct groups of individuals and whether those groups differ on firearm purchasing behaviors. Methods: 6,404 US residents (Minnesota, n = 1,789;Mississippi, n = 1,418;New Jersey, n = 3,197) were recruited via Qualtrics panels. Participants were matched to 2010 census data. Results: Fit statistics determined a four-class solution fit the data best. The Liberal-Many Health Behaviors class had high probabilities of voting for President Biden, reporting more liberal political beliefs than other classes, and engaging in multiple health behaviors (e.g., mask wearing, vaccination). The Moderate-Few Health Behaviors class had high probabilities of voting for President Biden, reporting moderate political beliefs, and engaging in few health behaviors. The Conservative-Few Health Behaviors class had high probabilities of voting for former President Trump, reporting conservative political beliefs, and engaging in few health behaviors. The Conservative-Many Health Behaviors class had high probabilities of voting for former President Trump, having conservative political beliefs, and engaging in many health behaviors. Of the participants in the study who reported owning firearms, those in the Few Health Behavior classes were more likely to have purchased firearms during the purchasing surge, whereas those in the Many Health Behavior classes were likely to have become first-time firearm owners in 2020-2021. Lastly, the Few Health Behavior classes exhibited significantly less trust in the intentions of scientists. Conclusion: Different subgroups of firearm owners may evaluate and respond to risk differently, resulting in a pattern of adopting or avoiding a range of public health recommendations. Those who avoided mask wearing and COVID-19 vaccinations and who purchased firearms during the firearm purchasing surge appear to have less trust in science, highlighting the need for trusted messengers to increase the reach of behavioral interventions. [ FROM AUTHOR] Copyright of Journal of Social & Clinical Psychology is the property of Guilford Publications Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full . (Copyright applies to all s.)

Threat perceptions and the intention to acquire firearms.

Firearm sales have surged during COVID-19, raising concerns about a coming wave of suicide deaths. Little is known, however, about the individuals considering acquiring firearms during the pandemic. Recent research has highlighted that individuals considering acquiring firearms may be motivated by exaggerated threat expectancies. In a sample of 3,500 Americans matched to 2010 United States Census data, we compared individuals intending to buy firearms in the coming 12 months (assessed in late June and early July 2020) to those undecided or not planning to acquire firearms on a range of demographic, anxiety, and firearm ownership variables. Our results indicated that those intending to acquire a firearm in the next twelve months are less tolerant of uncertainty, endorse exaggerated threat expectancies, and are experiencing more severe COVID-19 specific fears. Individuals intending to purchase firearms were also more likely to have experienced suicidal ideation in the past year, to have worked in law enforcement, and to have been considered essential workers during COVID-19. Furthermore, such individuals were more likely to already own firearms and to have purchased firearms during the opening months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Those intending to purchase firearms did not endorse lower perceived neighborhood safety, however, indicating that their intent to purchase firearms is unlikely to be driven by tangible threats in their immediate environment. These findings highlight that exaggerated fears may be motivating individuals to purchase firearms to diminish anxiety and that this trend may be particularly common among individuals who already own firearms.

Brief Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (BCBT-SP) via Video Telehealth: A Case Example During the COVID-19 Outbreak.

Although veterans living in remote/rural areas are at elevated risk for suicide, there is very little research specific to treating suicidal veterans who present with barriers to in-person care. The current study aims to examine the delivery of brief cognitive-behavioral therapy for suicide prevention (BCBT-SP) via Clinical Video Telehealth (CVT) to the home of a veteran discharged from the psychiatric inpatient unit after a recent suicide attempt. Preliminary data on acceptability, feasibility, and changes in symptoms were gathered. The veteran received treatment during the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak and additional adaptations were made accordingly. The veteran did not engage in any suicidal behavior during the course of treatment, and suicidal ideation, depression, and anxiety decreased as treatment progressed. The results provide initial support for the feasibility of BCBT-SP via CVT to the home.

Suicidal Ideation Among Individuals Who Have Purchased Firearms During COVID-19.

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. 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. 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. 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.

Associations among state-level physical distancing measures and suicidal thoughts and behaviors among U.S. adults during the early COVID-19 pandemic.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to identify leading sources of stress, describe rates of mental health outcomes, and examine their associations among U.S. adults during the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHOD: In a cross-sectional, general population survey conducted from March 18 to April 4, 2020, U.S. adults (n = 10,625) were recruited through Qualtrics Panels using quota sampling methods. RESULTS: Life stressors, probable depression, past-month suicide ideation, and past-month suicide attempts were not elevated among participants subject to state-level stay-at-home orders and/or large gathering bans. Multiple life stressors were associated with increased rates of probable depression. Past-month suicide ideation was significantly higher among participants reporting ongoing arguments with a partner and serious legal problems. Past-month suicide attempt was significantly higher among participants reporting concerns about a life-threatening illness or injury, but was significantly lower among participants reporting an unexpected bill or expense. CONCLUSIONS: Results failed to support the conclusion that physical distancing measures are correlated with worse mental health outcomes. Concerns about life-threatening illness or injury were uniquely associated with increased risk of suicide attempt.