N'dea Moore-Petinak1, Marika Waselewski2, Blaire Alma Patterson1, Tammy Chang3. 1. School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 2. Department of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 3. Department of Family Medicine, Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan. Electronic address: tachang@med.umich.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand youth experience and opinion surrounding active shooter drills. METHODS: MyVoice is a national text message poll of the youth ages 14-24 years that collects youth opinion on salient policy issues. Participants are recruited to meet national benchmarks. Five open-ended probes were posed to participants on August 2, 2019. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis; quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among respondents (815 of 1283; 63.5%), the average age was 18.7 years (SD = 2.9). Most were girls (52.9%), non-white (42.8%), and with < high school diploma (56.9%). Responses centered around three themes: drill methods vary, active shooter drills cause emotional distress, and youth perceive drills to have questionable benefit. The majority (60.2%) mentioned that drills make them feel "scared and hopeless," but many (56.1%) also noted drills "teach kids on what to do." Others (24%) stated drills do not improve safety because they inform potential shooters or are ineffective because "people will likely panic, forgetting their drill." CONCLUSIONS: Many youth report that active shooter drills have a negative effect on their emotional health and are conflicted on their effectiveness.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to understand youth experience and opinion surrounding active shooter drills. METHODS: MyVoice is a national text message poll of the youth ages 14-24 years that collects youth opinion on salient policy issues. Participants are recruited to meet national benchmarks. Five open-ended probes were posed to participants on August 2, 2019. Qualitative data were analyzed using thematic analysis; quantitative data were summarized using descriptive statistics. RESULTS: Among respondents (815 of 1283; 63.5%), the average age was 18.7 years (SD = 2.9). Most were girls (52.9%), non-white (42.8%), and with < high school diploma (56.9%). Responses centered around three themes: drill methods vary, active shooter drills cause emotional distress, and youth perceive drills to have questionable benefit. The majority (60.2%) mentioned that drills make them feel "scared and hopeless," but many (56.1%) also noted drills "teach kids on what to do." Others (24%) stated drills do not improve safety because they inform potential shooters or are ineffective because "people will likely panic, forgetting their drill." CONCLUSIONS: Many youth report that active shooter drills have a negative effect on their emotional health and are conflicted on their effectiveness.