Peer-reviewed article
Feasibility study exploring sleep impacts among families in the aftermath of firearm-related trauma.
Robbins R, Masiakos PT, Vlaun G, Quan SF, Sacks CA ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study explored sleep disruption in children and their caregivers following firearm-related deaths in the United States. Researchers conducted focus groups with eight Black female caregivers of children aged 13 and under who had experienced loss due to gun violence. Caregivers reported that both they and their children experienced sleep difficulties linked to grief and trauma. The study found that a mindfulness-based smartphone app for sleep was viewed as feasible and acceptable by participating families.
Key points
- All eight caregivers reported experiencing sleep difficulties related to grief and trauma from loss due to gun violence
- Caregivers also described sleep difficulties in their children following loss
- Participants responded positively to a mindfulness-based behavioral intervention app for sleep, viewing it as feasible and appropriate
- The sample consisted entirely of Black female caregivers, average age 50 years
- Sleep disruption is identified as an unaddressed mental health need in available support services after gun violence
Limitations
This is a small qualitative feasibility study (n=8) with a homogeneous sample of Black female caregivers, so findings may not generalize to other populations or family structures affected by gun violence. The study assessed acceptability and feasibility of the app but did not evaluate its actual effectiveness on sleep or mental health outcomes.
Abstract
Objective The ripple effects of gun violence are far reaching, particularly for children impacted by this trauma. Many of the available sources of mental health support in the wake of gun violence do not address disrupted sleep, which commonly develops as a consequence of loss. Method We recruited adults for focus groups who are caregivers to a child or young adult impacted by loss due to gun violence from the Victim Support Services department of a police department in the US Southeast. The children to whom the adult provides care were required to be 13 years of age or younger. The aim of the focus groups was to understand sleep difficulties and ascertain the feasibility of a mindfulness-based behavioral intervention smartphone application (app) for sleep. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and then analyzed in accordance with the constant comparison method. Results The average age of caregivers in the sample (n = 8) was 50 years of age (s.d. = 8.9); 100% were female and 100% were Black/African American. Themes from the qualitative analysis suggested that caregivers experienced sleep difficulties that were intimately related to grief and trauma due to loss. Caregivers also described sleep difficulties in their children in the wake of loss. Participants provided favorable reactions to the mindfulness app as feasible and appropriate for families like them. Conclusions Focus groups revealed sleep difficulties among families impacted by loss due to gun violence. Reactions to the mindfulness app were positive. Future research should evaluate the impact of the mindfulness intervention on child and caregiver mental and sleep health.
Findings the Hub has extracted
Each claim below is labelled by its type of design and links back to this report.
- Intervention
- Mindfulness-based behavioral intervention smartphone application for sleep
- Population
- Caregivers (average age 50, all female, all Black) caring for children aged 13 and under who experienced loss due to gun violence
Key finding
Caregivers reported sleep difficulties intimately related to grief and trauma due to loss
R et al. · Europe PMC · 4 Aug 2026