The project utilizes a two-stage multi-method approach: (Phase 1) a quantitative analysis to identify unique subgroups of gun owners with different suicide risk factors; and (Phase 2) a qualitative analysis to gather information regarding receptivity, facilitators, and barriers for developing targeted firearm suicide prevention programs for these subgroups.
The quantitative study will use data from a U.S. national survey of gun owners (ages 18+) that will capture: information about suicide health risk factors; attributes of gun ownership including types, quantities and combinations of guns owned, reasons for owning guns, and attitudes about gun regulations; psychographics including political orientation and personality attributes; and demographics including occupation and geographic setting.
This information will be analyzed using Latent Class Analysis (LCA) to reveal a number of subgroups that share similar attributes. A community based participatory research process will be employed by recruiting a CAB of stakeholders from different firearm suicide risk subgroups.
The identification of unique subgroups will inform the recruitment of several focus groups that will be used to reveal opportunities and obstacles for the creation of targeted firearm suicide prevention programs that can be implemented by firearm owners.
The CAB will assist with interpretation of the research results, design of the focus groups and review of a final integrated report that will guide the development of a future grant which will focus on concept testing, program rollout, and program evaluation.
