Accidents & Violence, Author Interviews / 25.07.2019
Guns in the Home Increase Risk of Domestic Homicide
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
[caption id="attachment_50372" align="alignleft" width="138"]
Dr. Kivisto[/caption]
Aaron Kivisto, Ph.D., HSPP
Licensed Psychologist
Co-Director, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46227
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: There’s a robust literature showing that increased gun ownership rates are associated with increased rates of firearm homicide and suicide. We sought to examine whether the increased risk of homicide attributable to firearms is equally distributed across the population of potential victims or whether the risk is localized to particular victim groups.
Our findings showed that the risk of gun ownership is fairly localized to intimate partners and other family members; they’re bearing the bulk of the risk associated with gun ownership.
Dr. Kivisto[/caption]
Aaron Kivisto, Ph.D., HSPP
Licensed Psychologist
Co-Director, Clinical Psychology Doctoral Program
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
University of Indianapolis
Indianapolis, IN 46227
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: There’s a robust literature showing that increased gun ownership rates are associated with increased rates of firearm homicide and suicide. We sought to examine whether the increased risk of homicide attributable to firearms is equally distributed across the population of potential victims or whether the risk is localized to particular victim groups.
Our findings showed that the risk of gun ownership is fairly localized to intimate partners and other family members; they’re bearing the bulk of the risk associated with gun ownership.
Dr. Epling[/caption]
John W. Epling, Jr., M.D., M.S.Ed
Professor of Family and Community Medicine
Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Roanoke, VA
USPSTF Task Force Member
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?
Response: Intimate partner violence, often known as domestic violence, can have devastating consequences to one’s health and wellbeing. It can lead to mental illness, substance abuse, unintended pregnancy, and even death. This is a serious public health issue in America: one in three men—and even more women—experience it in their lifetimes. Because this is such an important topic, and the last time we made a recommendation on it was in 2013, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force reviewed the most recent evidence to determine how clinicians can help prevent the negative health effects of intimate partner violence.

