New research led by DSPI’s DPhil student Deanna Giraldi has found that impacts of gun violence, such as mass shootings and interpersonal violence, extend far beyond the statistics that dominate national debates and daily media coverage.
With more than 40,000 Americans killed and approximately 85,000 others shot and wounded in acts of gun violence annually, there are an unquantified group of people affected beyond those experiencing physical injuries including witnesses, family and community members. To help capture the full impact of gun violence exposure, this scoping review analysed 25 years of literature involving wounded survivors, witnesses, and their communities.
“Gun violence does not just harm individuals, it also sends shockwaves through families, neighbourhoods, and entire communities with ripple effects that can persist and change over time,” commented Ms Giraldi. “Even those who are not directly wounded often face a mix of physical, psychological, social and economic repercussions.”
Key findings
The study revealed an imbalance in coverage and highlighted the broader impacts of gun violence:
- Over a quarter of articles (26.4%) focused on mass shootings and a sixth (16.1%) on short-term psychological outcomes. This compares to only 3.4% of articles mentioning cumulative, interpersonal violence.
- Only a fifth of documents (20.7%) included data on indirect exposures to gun violence, such as trauma on families and caregivers.
- Individuals exposed to gun violence often experience additional burdens of social isolation and stigmatisation, particularly within racially marginalised communities.
- Survivors reported struggling with loss of employment and the cascading economic effects of long-term disability, highlighting the limitations of insurance coverage and social safety nets.
- Survivor-witnesses expressed how strong family ties, peer networks, and a sense of purpose helped mitigate the long-term psychological damage caused by gun violence.
Significance of research
The study shows there are gaps in literature on gun violence and highlights future opportunities for both research and practice. Future research could explore the non-physical impacts of gun violence, particularly in relation to mental health outcomes, collective trauma, and societal perceptions of safety.
Ms Giraldi will be presenting these finding at the “On Target” seminar hosted by the Yale School of Public Health and University of Connecticut ARMS (Advancing Research, Methods, and Scholarship in Gun Injury Prevention) in early 2026.
Read the research in full in Lancet Regional Health
