Rise in AsAm firearm purchases linked to racism on mental distress, alcohol use, during the pandemic

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By Kate Barnes, University of Michigan

Racism provoked during the COVID-19 pandemic is directly tied to increased firearm purchases among Asian Americans, according to a study led by researchers at the University of Michigan and Eastern Michigan University.

The study, published in the Journal of Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities, is believed to be the first to examine the relationship between racism, mental distress, alcohol use and firearm purchasing behavior among Asian Americans during the pandemic.

Evaluation of the data showed that experiencing racism was both directly and indirectly related to firearm purchases.

        READ: The original article in University of Michigan's 'Medical Press.'

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Asian Americans have experienced multiple threats, including hostile rhetoric, violence, exposure to invectives, negative stories in the media, and anti-Asian hate and incidents," said lead author Tsu-Yin Wu, professor and director of the Center for Health Disparities Innovation and Studies at Eastern Michigan University.

"The study results showed that Asian Americans' racism experience is associated with increased mental distress, alcohol use and firearm purchases. The mechanism further illustrated that mental distress and alcohol use were also linked to firearm purchases, which means racism affects firearm purchase in a heightened way both directly and indirectly."

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