The Long‐Term Impact of Adolescent Community Weapon‐Related Violence Exposure on Depression: Insomnia as a Mediating Pathway

ABSTRACT

Adolescents exposed to community weapon‐related violence face increased mental health risks, including depression, with insomnia linked to negative mental health outcomes. Given the high rates of insomnia in this population, this study explores insomnia as a mediator between community weapon‐related violence and adult depression. Using data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health, we analyzed the association between adolescent weapon‐related violence (Wave 1) and depression in adulthood (Wave 4), with insomnia (Wave 2) as a mediator ( N  = 3924). Community weapon‐related violence was associated with higher levels of depression in adulthood, 13 years post‐exposure, through insomnia ( β  = 0.01, p  = 0.01). Insomnia accounted for 7% of the total effect of weapon‐related violence on depressive symptoms, indicating a partial mediation effect. Our findings identify a pathway through which adolescent community weapon‐related violence leads to depression in adulthood, underscoring the need for early interventions targeting insomnia to reduce long‐term depression risk in this population.