Study of young African American men in US cities finds negative perspectives of community, few opportunities

Research has documented the many ways individuals' environments (e.g., community, neighborhood) affect their health. In a new study on gun ownership, researchers surveyed young African American men who lived in high-crime, high-violence cities to better understand their perception of their environment and its impact on community violence. Respondents described their cities negatively, with few opportunities and as places where they felt they had to own a gun to survive, which can perpetuate community violence.