Understanding the broader impacts of non-fatal firearm violence trauma in the United States: a scoping review

Abstract

Exposure to firearm violence produces ripples of impact that extend far beyond the physical wounds of direct survivors. This scoping review aimed to describe the breadth of the last 25 years of literature on short-term, long-term, and cumulative impacts of firearm violence in the United States across physical, psychological, social, and economic domains. We searched PubMed, Embase, Scopus, PsycINFO, CINAHL, ProQuest Social Science Premium (ASSIA, NCJRS, and ERIC) and Web of Science until March 2024. Among 3172 articles, 87 met inclusion criteria. Our findings suggest that research most often explores short-term and psychological impacts on direct survivor-witnesses. The review highlights notable gaps, particularly regarding long-term and cumulative impacts among both the immediate social networks of survivor-witnesses and their wider communities. Further research is necessary for the effective development of trauma-informed interventions and the provision of economic resources aimed at supporting a growing population of survivors and communities affected by violence.