How shootings ripple through families and communities of young people
Developing Trauma Networks of Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults to Examine the "Ripple Effect" of Firearm Injuries
This project maps who is connected to firearm shootings to understand how children, teens, young adults, and their families are affected over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Indiana University Indianapolis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Indianapolis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11160493 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This work uses already-linked police and health records from 2016–2022 to build 'trauma networks' of people who were present at shootings or are family members of victims. The team will identify victims, witnesses, and relatives and follow linked health records for outcomes like PTSD, anxiety, and depression. The focus is on children, adolescents, and young adults who are likely to be overlooked by current interventions. The study analyzes existing data rather than recruiting people in person.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People included would be children, adolescents, young adults, and their family members who were victims, witnesses, or listed relatives of someone injured or killed by firearm in the linked records.
Not a fit: Anyone with no connection to a firearm event or who lives outside the geographic area and timeframe covered by the records is unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help pinpoint children, teens, and families at higher risk after nearby shootings so support and prevention efforts can reach them sooner.
How similar studies have performed: Prior research shows shootings raise risks for PTSD and anxiety, but using linked police and health records to map full trauma networks in youth is relatively new and less well-established.
Where this research is happening
Indianapolis, United States
- Indiana University Indianapolis — Indianapolis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Magee, Lauren a — Indiana University Indianapolis
- Study coordinator: Magee, Lauren a
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.