Black mothers trapped in unsafe neighborhoods signal the stressful health toll of gun violence in the U.S.
When it comes to stress caused by gun violence, black mothers are the canaries of the coal mine.
Black Americans are more likely than whites to live in impoverished, segregated communities that have high gun violence levels. Researchers have found that living in unsafe and violent environments may result in constant traumatic stress. Researchers have linked violence and poverty with an increased risk for chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.
We are Black women, professors of public policy, and professors of sociology. Our research focuses on health inequities as well as sustainable policy solutions. Our research found that Black women who felt trapped in neighborhoods perceived to be unsafe due to high levels of violence were more likely than other mothers to report elevated symptoms of PTSD, depression, and stress hormones.
It’s not just a Black woman’s story that is affected by gun violence. This is an American story.
Feeling trapped can have negative health effects.
Our research team wanted to know the impact of structural violence on the body, specifically on the immune system. We spoke to 68 single Black mothers who live on the South Side in Chicago about their experiences with gun violence and their impact on their health.
These Black mothers were asked to fill out surveys measuring depression and PTSD. They were also asked to donate blood to measure the effects of stress on the cell level. We measured the activity of the genes that code the receptors of the stress hormone cortisol. The cortisol receptors can be used to measure cortisol over time.
We found that 65% of mothers wanted to leave their neighborhood but couldn’t afford it. They felt trapped by areas of high gun violence, which made them feel unsafe for both adults and children. Ellen is the name of a mother who took part in our study. She described her neighborhood to be dangerous and wanted out as quickly as possible. She said, “I am very afraid of my children going to the park and playing in front of our house.” “I’m scared that a car could come by and hit one of my children.”
Skylar is the name of another mother who felt that she could not escape to a more safe community. “I don’t want to raise my children there, but I have no choice. It’s just what I can afford. “But it’s really violent.”
The mothers who felt trapped had more PTSD symptoms, such as disturbing dreams and memories and reliving stressful events, than the mothers who didn’t feel trapped. Depressive symptoms were also more prevalent, including feeling hopeless and down, not enjoying doing things, and difficulty sleeping.
Mothers who could not afford to move to safer areas had lower levels of receptors for glucocorticoids. Stress can cause high cortisol, and having fewer glucocorticoid receptors helps protect the body from this. High cortisol from chronic stress is linked to negative health outcomes.
Environment determines health; it can define a person’s health by where they live, work, play, worship, and learn.
Researchers estimated that about 83.570 Black people died prematurely every year in the U.S., based on 2002 data. According to some scholars, this is equivalent to an aircraft full of Black passengers dropping out of the sky each day.
It is important to remember that the disparities that Black women face are not a function of their race but of structural racism. Redlining is a component of environmental pollution. Food desolation, as well as gun violence, are all part of racial capital.
The general American population is also affected by the threats that are constantly posed to the safety and security of Black mothers, their children, and their families.
The rate of mass shootings has been increasing. In the U.S., firearm fatalities are a major cause of death for children aged 1 to 19. Gun violence has injured people at parades, stores, churches, schools, and other events.
Access to wellness is increasing.
Understanding the complexity of the exposome, the term researchers use to describe environmental factors such as gun violence, which affect an individual’s well-being and health, can help extend the healthy years for groups who are prone to premature death. This knowledge is only possible with the input of people of color and other marginalized groups.
We are creating a “Wellness Store,” which will provide wellness tools and health information to individuals. This is especially important for those who have experienced interlocking traumas, such as racism and sexism. The tools were created in collaboration with community health workers, citizen scientists, and other stakeholders. They range from apps for phones to policies that aim to “get stress out from under the surface.”
Black communities are full of resilient and vulnerable people who deserve urgent solutions to policies that will lead to societal changes. We believe that greater investment in health equity and disease prevention can help the U.S. make the most of the technology, knowledge, and funds it already has to provide people with the most valuable resource: the ability to live a healthy and fulfilling life.
