State handgun purchase age minimums in the US and adolescent suicide rates: regression discontinuity and difference-in-differences analyses.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To evaluate the association between US state policies that establish age 18 or 21 years as the minimum purchaser age for the sale of handguns and adolescent suicide rate.

Design

Regression discontinuity and difference-in-differences analyses.

Setting

46 US states without policy changes between 2001 and 2017; Missouri and South Carolina, which lowered the age for handgun sales in 2007 and 2008, respectively; and West Virginia and Wyoming, which increased the age for handgun sales in 2010.

Participants

Adolescents aged 13 to 20 years(554 461 961 from 2001 to 2017) in the regression discontinuity analysis, and adolescents aged 18 to 20 years (168 934 041 from 2002 to 2014) in the main difference-in-differences analysis.

Main outcome measure

Suicid

SUBMITTER: Raifman J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7374798 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature