Understanding Nonresponse to Firearm Ownership Questions
Author Information
Author(s): Samantha E. Daruwala, Rosie C. Bauder, Melanie L. Bozzay, Craig J. Bryan
Primary Institution: The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Hypothesis
Individuals who provided a nonresponse about firearm ownership would be demographically similar to those who endorse firearm ownership and demographically different from those who denied ownership.
Conclusion
Nonresponders may be a unique subgroup with distinct demographic, emotional distress, and suicide risk profiles compared to both firearm owners and nonowners.
Supporting Evidence
- Nonresponders were significantly younger and more likely to be female and non-White than firearm owners and nonowners.
- Firearm owners reported higher rates of probable depression and PTSD compared to nonowners.
- Nonresponders were less likely to endorse recent suicidal ideation than firearm owners.
Takeaway
Some people don't answer questions about owning guns, and they might be different from those who do answer. This can make it harder to understand how gun ownership relates to suicide risk.
Methodology
Data were collected from a crossâsectional online survey of US adults, with analyses comparing demographic and emotional distress differences across firearm owners, nonowners, and nonresponders.
Potential Biases
Nonresponders may reflect a heterogeneous mix of firearm owners and nonowners, complicating the understanding of their suicide risk.
Limitations
The study could not ascertain if nonresponders were truly firearm owners and did not examine differences based on military status due to all nonresponders denying military service.
Participant Demographics
The sample primarily consisted of White (62.1%), female-identified (50.7%), non-Hispanic/Latino/a (64.9%) individuals with a mean age of 45.2 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Confidence Interval
95% CI [1.93, 2.32]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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