Literature Review – Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors

Literature Review – Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors

Current Research

Mass shootings have become a significant public health concern, particularly due to their profound psychological impacts on survivors, especially young individuals. These traumas can develop into mental illnesses, including Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), anxiety, and depression. Such impacts must be well understood in order to employ efficient mental health services based on the individual needs of the youths. This literature review is structured around the following research questions, which are central to the study:

1. What are the short-term and long-term mental health impacts of mass shootings on young survivors?
2. How do these impacts differ based on demographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status?
3. What coping mechanisms and support systems are most effective in aiding recovery?
4. How can schools and communities better support the mental health needs of these young survivors?

These questions are intended to address major gaps in the knowledge base and help create targeted interventions aimed at specific population subgroups. This approach helps ensure that the given research is in line with other areas of psychology, such as trauma and crisis intervention techniques.

Research Questions

The research guiding this study is centred on the following key questions:

1. What are the short-term and long-term mental health impacts of mass shootings on young survivors?

• This question aims at understanding both short-term and long-term psychological impacts, which may include post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression in the young survivors of mass shooting incidents. It is imperative to comprehend these effects in order to construct interventions aiming to mitigate the effects in the short period after the disaster and also the long-term processes of recovery (Terrorism et al., 2023).

1. How do these impacts differ based on demographic factors such as age, gender, and socioeconomic status?

• This question considers the differences in mental health results of young survivors, particularly in connection with demographic factors that affect the intensity and character of the psychological consequences. By identifying these differences, the study aims to facilitate the appropriate interventions for the different groups of the population (Vo et al., 2023).

1. What coping mechanisms and support systems are most effective in aiding recovery?
   • This question focuses on the effectiveness of different coping mechanisms and support structures offered by schools, communities, and other mental health service providers. The aim is to determine what should be done to promote the idea of helping young people through post-trauma processes (Maynard et al., 2019).
2. How can schools and communities better support the mental health needs of these young survivors?

• This question emphasizes educational and community-based interventions in fulfilling the mental health needs of young survivors. It aims to determine the approaches that schools and communities should embrace in an effort to deliver optimal mental health services (Castillo, 2020).

These research questions are informed by trauma theory and are significant questions since they seek to fill vital research voids. Thus, the answers to these questions are intended to help the theoretical framework to advance empirically grounded and culturally appropriate mental health interventions for young survivors of mass shootings.

Past Research Findings

Synthesis of Previous Research

The existing literature on analyzing the effects of mass shootings on youth survivors shows a unison in evaluating the extent and duration of psychological injuries prevalent in the affected community. A cumulative meta-analysis of these studies underlines the fact that the suffered trauma was complex and the response differential because of demographic characteristics.

Abrams (2022) provides a comprehensive analysis of the short-term and long-term mental health impact of mass shooting incidents, specifically focusing on post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. Her synthesis of prior research makes it clear that people suffer from immediate and severe psychological impacts following these events and become susceptible to acute stress disorders, which may develop into chronic syndromes such as PTSD. Abrams also highlights secondary traumatogenic factors, including media coverage and community reactions to the actual trauma. This synthesis is helpful in highlighting the importance of early interventions that must focus on the survivors’ short-term as well as long-term mental health care needs (Abrams, 2022).

On the other hand, Ranney et al. (2019) have provided a scoping review of the literature to understand the long-term psychological impact on the youth who are affected by firearm injuries. Their study points out that the most common effects are PTSD and depression, but there are significant differences depending on age, gender, and income level. This paper, therefore, integrates information from numerous sources, bringing out the need to develop specific intervention measures based on the samples obtained from these demographic variables. The authors stated that it is essential to focus on the flexibility of programs and services regarding mental health for the targeted groups, which can also be seen in other studies (Ranney et al., 2019).

Consistently, Majcherek et al. (2022) present the data that contribute to understanding the association between demographic-socioeconomic characteristics and mental health. In their synthesis of research, they describe how these factors affect the degree of psychological of the affected people in mass shooting incidents. This study synthesizes data from several sources to conclude that such DEMs should be considered in developing interventions for them. These methodical approaches to integrating existing literature underscore the importance of developing targeted approaches to addressing mental health issues based on demographic characteristics (Majcherek et al., 2022).

Subsequently, Wiedermann et al. (2023) are interested in the utilization of educational policies to provide mental health services and review literature that supports the provision of mental health services in educational settings. Their review gathers and synthesizes some studies showing how school-based intervention can counteract the consequences of trauma in the long run. Wiedermann et al. (2023) also pointed to the need for schools, mental health caregivers, and communities as a strong support system for such survivors. The argument of this synthesis is that educational institutions provide valuable opportunities for recovery and resilience (Wiedermann et al., 2023).

Collectively, these studies offer a rich synthesis of previous research, illustrating the complex interplay between trauma, demographic factors, and the effectiveness of various interventions. They underscore the importance of a holistic approach to mental health care that is responsive to the specific needs of young survivors of mass shootings. The synthesis of this research forms the foundation for the proposed study, which aims to build on these findings and contribute new insights into the development of effective mental health interventions (Lomax & Meyrick, 2020).

Evaluation of Studies

The discussed research provides a solid ground for comprehending the psychological effects of mass shootings on surviving youth, yet they raise more questions. While Abrams (2022) conducts a good literature review in which she assimilates works from prior studies and articles effectively, she does not present novel research data on which to base her conclusions, and as a result, her observations are less exact and relevant. Ranney et al. (2019) give a broader perspective on demographic factors by using a secondary source of data, therefore calling for more data collection on the same line of research by using primary methods. When it comes to crucial comparative empirical work already existing in the literature, Majcherek et al. (2022) provide critical assessments. However, compared populations are European, which could reduce the external validity of the findings. As mentioned by Wiedermann et al. (2023), there are some policy implications, but there is little focus on people’s psychological reactions to trauma. They point to the need for larger and more encompassing studies that are longitudinal, based on primary data, and culturally sensitive to identify promising treatment approaches for young survivors of mass shootings. Filling these gaps will improve the utility and efficiency of mental health interventions.

Research Gaps

The continued absence of controlled studies that can establish causality and the efficacy of treatments for young mass shooters is also another major deficit in the current literature. While numerous articles offer information on the impact of such traumatizing incidences on the psychology of a person, there is insufficient research that focuses on techniques to prevent such effects from occurring. As can thus be observed, the use of secondary data in some of these studies suggests the need for empirical replication of the findings and highlights the potential of creating new intervention strategies (Schultz & Skarstein, 2020). Secondly, another weakness worth mentioning is that there is no specific focus on the assessment of the related needs of various individuals. Thus, some works, such as Ranney et al. (2019) and Majcherek et al. (2022), emphasize the demographic aspect. However, more detailed analyses are needed to understand how these factors influence the effectiveness of the interventions. To address these gaps, research aimed at understanding the relationship between trauma, demographics, and helpful treatments will, therefore, need to be conducted across multiple disciplines (Cruz et al., 2022).

Contribution of Existing Research

The existing body of research on the mental health impact of mass shootings on young survivors provides a crucial foundation for addressing the questions posed in this study. Abrams (2022) has provided a detailed description of the psychological impact of mass shootings, arguing that mass shootings cause immediate impairments such as acute stress disorders, which may progress to chronic ones such as PTSD, anxiety, and depression, among others. Furthermore, Ranney et al. (2019) and Majcherek et al. (2022) point out that demographic effects such as age, gender, and SES moderate the extent of these effects, calling for demographic-stratified mitigation measures. Wiedermann et al. (2023) also build upon this argument by stressing the relevance of school and community-based programs that play a crucial role in helping young survivors rebuild their lives. This existing research, however, seems to have critical gaps, particularly in establishing the effectiveness of various coping strategies and supports. The proposed study’s importance, therefore, lies in filling these gaps with new empirical data about how demographic factors mode with and interact with trauma and in helping schools and communities come up with evidence-based, meaningful interventions that can be sustained to support young survivors mental health needs better in the long term (Sun et al., 2024).

Conclusion

This literature review has also identified and presented conclusions derived from other literature regarding the mental effects of mass shootings among young survivors. Although there are numerous theoretical perspectives on the short-term and long-term impact of these traumatic events, the literature lacks focused research on the various demographic group’s requirements. These gaps are to be filled by the proposed research, which seeks to understand the mental health trajectories of young survivors and the best approaches to helping young people. The inclusion of the stakeholders’ data and concern with practical applications of the findings in the present study allows this line of research to be highly valuable to the field of psychology and public health.

References

Abrams, Z. (2022, July 11). The stress of mass shootings causing a cascade of collective traumas. Apa.org; American Psychological Association. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/09/news-mass-shootings-collective-traumas

Castillo, E. G. (2020). Community interventions to promote mental health and social equity. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(5), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-019-1017-0

Cruz, D., Lichten, M., Berg, K., & George, P. (2022). Developmental trauma: Conceptual framework, associated risks and comorbidities, and evaluation and treatment. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 13(800687). https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2022.800687

Lomax, J., & Meyrick, J. (2020). Systematic Review: Effectiveness of psychosocial interventions on well-being outcomes for adolescent or adult victims/survivors of recent rape or sexual assault. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(2), 135910532095079. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105320950799

Majcherek, D., Kowalski, A. M., & Lewandowska, M. S. (2022). Lifestyle, Demographic and Socioeconomic Determinants of Mental Health Disorders of Employees in the European Countries. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19), 11913. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911913

Maynard, B. R., Farina, A., Dell, N. A., & Kelly, M. S. (2019). Effects of trauma‐informed approaches in schools: A systematic review. Campbell Systematic Reviews, 15(1-2). https://doi.org/10.1002/cl2.1018

Ranney, M., Karb, R., Ehrlich, P., Bromwich, K., Cunningham, R., & Beidas, R. S. (2019). What are the long-term consequences of youth exposure to firearm injury, and how do we prevent them? A scoping review. Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 42(4), 724–740. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10865-019-00035-2

Schultz, J.-H., & Skarstein, D. (2020). I’m not as bright as I used to be – pupils’ meaning-making of reduced academic performance after trauma. International Journal of School & Educational Psychology, 9(4), 265–279. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683603.2020.1837698

Sun, Y., Tamblyn, A., Morris, H., Boothby, C., Skouteris, H., & Blewitt, C. (2024). Early Childhood and Primary School Teachers’ Experiences and Needs in Working with Trauma-impacted Children: A Systematic Review and Thematic Synthesis. Children and Youth Services Review, 156(67), 107344–107344. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2023.107344

Terrorism, I. of M. (US) C. on R. to the P. C. of, Butler, A. S., Panzer, A. M., & Goldfrank, L. R. (2023). Understanding the Psychological Consequences of Traumatic Events, Disasters, and Terrorism. Www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov; National Academies Press (US). https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK221638/#:~:text=The%20majority%20of%20people%20may

Vo, C. Q., Samuelsen, P.-J., Hilde Leikny Sommerseth, Torbjørn Wisløff, Wilsgaard, T., & Anne Elise Eggen. (2023). Comparing the sociodemographic characteristics of participants and non-participants in the population-based Tromsø Study. BMC Public Health, 23(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15928-w

Wiedermann, C. J., Barbieri, V., Plagg, B., Marino, P., Piccoliori, G., & Engl, A. (2023). Fortifying the foundations: A comprehensive approach to enhancing mental health support in educational policies amidst crises. Healthcare, 11(10), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11101423

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MY TOPIC: Mental Health Impact of Mass Shootings on Young Survivors