Gun violence exposure and population health inequality: a conceptual framework

Abstract

This essay establishes a conceptual framework to understand how direct, secondar and community exposures to gun violence converge to influence population health. Our framework asserts that persistent gun violence in structurally disadvantaged communities enacts broad consequences for mental, physical and behavioural health, operating as a key driver of racial and socioeconomic health disparities. We discuss the applications of this framework for research and improved data collection with a focus on establishing timely and accurate measures of gun violence alongside individual and community health measures. We then address the policy implications of the framework, emphasising the need for long-term, institutional investment in gun violence prevention and intervention, survivor service provision and evidence-based policies at all levels of government.