Article Summary –
Researchers from Mass General Brigham have conducted a study into the impact of nighttime gunshots on the sleep and well-being of individuals in high-risk communities. The study, which analyzed 72,236 gunshot reports from six major US cities between 2015 and 2021, found that 72% of gunshots occur at night and could lead to an estimated 12.5 million individual instances of a person hearing a gunshot annually. The researchers believe that the noise from gunshots and subsequent sirens could disrupt sleep patterns, particularly in economically vulnerable neighborhoods, and plan to continue studying sleep disturbances in response to nighttime gunshots.
Impact of Nighttime Gunshots on Health and Well-being Unveiled by Mass General Brigham Researchers
The sound of nighttime gunshots followed by sirens may pose significant health impacts on millions of people in big cities, more than previously thought, according to a study by Mass General Brigham researchers.
The research analyzed 72,236 gunshot reports from major cities including Boston. It highlighted the potential disruption of sleep and overall health in the local community due to the loud sounds of gunshots and consequent sirens.
“Nighttime gunshots potentially interfere with sleep and well-being, especially in economically vulnerable neighborhoods,” explains researcher Rebecca Robbins. The study reveals this less-explored social determinant of health.
The report, “Estimating Community Disruption from Nighttime Gunshots in 6 U.S. Cities, 2015 to 2021,” examines the prevalence and impact of gunshots heard during nighttime, including the demographics of the most affected communities.
Researchers could only access sufficient gunshot data from six cities: Boston, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Portland, Oregon, and New York. The study indicates an alarming possible 12.5 million instances of individuals hearing gunfire yearly in these cities. It also found a correlation between higher median household income and reduced rates of nearby nighttime gunshots.
However, Boston was omitted from the geographic and income analysis due to insufficient specific gunshot data. The city witnessed about 919 yearly nighttime gunshots, with an estimated 1.6 million to 10.1 million instances of people within hearing range. Remarkably, 80% of these gunshots occurred at night, the highest among the surveyed cities.
The Boston neighborhood most impacted by nighttime gunshots was Roxbury while Charlestown was least impacted. Mass General Brigham researchers intend to continue studying sleep disturbances caused by nighttime gunshots and work on community-based sleep interventions.
“Gunshots can have traumatic ripple effects across families and entire communities,” adds co-author Chana Sacks. “Our work helps to expand our understanding of who is impacted by these events.”
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