Isabella Gomez & Sarah Quan

School Shootings and Depression Risk: The Impact of Safety Perceptions on Youth Mental Health 

This study examines how youth safety perceptions influence depression risk following school shootings. Drawing on cumulative stress and stress inoculation theories, we hypothesized that greater cumulative exposure to school shootings would be associated with increased depression risk.

The study sample consisted of the Youth Behavior Risk Surveillance System (YRBS) 1991-2021, and CHDS’ School Shooting Safety Compendium to categorize students based on district-level school shooting exposure: no exposure, 1 shooting, 2-3 shootings and 4-6 shootings. Black/African American youth were nearly twice as likely as Hispanic and White youth to experience 4-6 school shootings. 

Multilevel logistic regression models evaluated the association between school shooting exposure and depression risk, stratified by youth’s safety concerns. Among youth with safety concerns, depression risk was significantly elevated for 2-3 and 4-6 school shootings, supporting cumulative stress theory. Among youth without safety concerns, depression risk was only elevated at the highest exposure level suggesting a potential stress inoculation effect at lower exposure levels. 

Findings indicate that while cumulative exposure heightens distress, lower perceived safety can buffer depression risk at lower exposure levels. This research underscores the need for future policies that prioritize gun violence prevention and school-based interventions that address racial disparities and support mental health.