How Gun Violence Exposure Influences Racial Health Disparities among Adults in the United States

Gun violence is a pressing public health concern that disproportionately affects racial and ethnic minorities in the United States (US). This study examined whether gun violence exposure (GVE) connects socioeconomic disadvantage to racial disparities in health among US adults. Data came from a nationally representative 2024 survey of 7,066 Black, Hispanic, and White adults. Individual- and community-level disadvantage were measured alongside a five-item variety index of GVE. Structural equation models assessed direct and indirect associations of disadvantage and GVE with latent measures of self-rated health and chronic conditions (hypertension, diabetes, cholesterol). In a counterfactual analysis, predicted racial disparities were compared under scenarios adjusting community disadvantage and GVE to White levels. Results indicate that Black and Hispanic adults experience greater GVE and community disadvantage than White adults. GVE was consistently associated with poorer self-rated and chronic health across racial groups. Community disadvantage influenced health indirectly through GVE and simulations indicated that adjusting GVE significantly reduced racial health disparities. GVE represents a structural pathway through which community disadvantage contributes to racial health inequities.