Washington State University researchers have received a new grant to reduce firearm injuries among adolescents and to help families across Washington strengthen safe‑storage practices at home. The approximately $40,000 award from the Grandmothers Against Gun Violence Foundation will increase community awareness and equip parents and their adolescent children with practical tools through a coordinated approach to prevent firearm tragedies early.
Titled “Safe Storage, Safer Communities: Messaging to Prevent Adolescent Firearm Injuries in Rural Households,” the grant brings together WSU researchers, rural Washington communities, and fire safety experts to work together on communication strategies to support secure firearm storage among families with adolescents.
Edward R. Murrow College of Communication Professor Jessica Willoughby is the lead investigator on the project, working with WSU research colleagues to develop messages that reflect local values and experiences and encourage communities to discuss real, practical, community-centered approaches to promote firearm safety and prevent adolescent firearm injury and death.
“The project allows us to develop and test messages that can hopefully resonate with rural audiences about safe storage, which can lead to injury prevention,” Willoughby said. “The messages will be developed with feedback from parents of adolescents, as the messages will be designed for parents of youth. Injury-related risks can change from childhood to adolescence and beyond.”
Willoughby noted that the information gathered during the study will help health communicators develop messages that resonate with parents of youth at different ages and stages to promote safe firearm storage.
“The targeted messages will help us think about how messages can be targeted based on the developmental stage of children and adolescents, which can be helpful for injury prevention, as risks can change over adolescent and young adult development,” Willoughby said.
The WSU team includes Willoughby, Elizabeth Weybright from the College of Agricultural, Human, and Natural Resources Sciences, and Ashley Hall from WSU Extension.
The project will also help build health communication skills among both undergraduate and graduate students, who will contribute to the project.
Currently, a master’s student interested in message development and relevant methods is working on the project, and an undergraduate McNair scholar from psychology will be involved. Students will help with all phases of the project, from message development to message testing.
“This grant is more than funding; it is a collaborative approach to strengthen the community-level safety net and encourage safety discussions through evidence-based strategies that promote firearms safety,” Willoughby said.
