Michael D Anestis
Biographic Data
| ID | 197131 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Michael D Anestis |
| GIVEN NAMES | Michael D |
| FAMILY NAME | Anestis |
| SIGNATURE | ANESTIS M D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Southern Mississippi |
| ORCID | 0000-0001-8738-8877 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 28 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 37 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 28 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2008 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Firearm Access Screening in Mental Healthcare
OBJECTIVES: This study examined how mental healthcare providers' characteristics (e.g., firearm ownership) impact whether they screen for firearm access, and differences in reported screening frequency across clients' clinical presentations and demographics. METHODS: The sample included 311 mental healthcare providers (data collected 2023-2024). Providers indicated whether they screen for firearm access in their practice (yes/no), and those who r…
Utilizing Personality Assessment to Further Firearm Injury Prevention Research
Firearm violence, and especially firearm suicide, is a growing public health concern in the United States that requires a multidisciplinary approach to address. We argue that assessment psychologists are particularly well-suited to enhance understanding of firearm owners' individual differences, perceptions, and beliefs. Creating a robust literature at the nexus of personality, assessment, and firearms is vital to the development and implementati…
Frequency, recency, and variety of gun violence exposure
Local homicides increase suicide in US counties
Frequency of Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native US Residents Screened for Firearm Access
Objective This study evaluates Black and AIAN individuals' self-reported history of being screened for firearm access by healthcare providers, and identifies factors that influence screening. Methods A cross-sectional, nationally representative survey of included 3015 Black and 527 AIAN adults in the US. Participants were recruited via probability-based sampling. Results Among Black participants, 13.1% and among AIAN participants, 18.4% reported …
Citizen-Driven Firearm Safety Policies in a Rural Pennsylvania County
We explore data from focus group interviews ( n = 25) and community surveys ( n = 630) to examine resident support for policies to reduce firearm injuries in a rural Pennsylvania county. The data highlights overwhelming community support for integrating firearms safety education for persons under the age of 18 years. Support for expanding safe storage options and safety training varied significantly based on a resident’s own firearm ownership, co…
Honor Endorsement and Increased Firearm Purchasing Behavior and Intentions During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The surge in firearm sales from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been linked to increases in firearm violence, which is of public concern given that having firearms in one's home is associated with increased risk for domestic violence and suicide. Consistent with pre-pandemic trends, individuals tended to purchase firearms for self-protection during COVID-19. Prior work indicates that protective firearm ownership is motivated not only by p…
Female military service members and veterans
To examine the differences in treatment seeking behaviors, previous suicidal thoughts, previous suicide attempts, and disclosure of suicidal thoughts among female service members (SM)/Veteran suicide decedents who used a firearm and those who used another method. Data was acquired from the National Violent Death Reporting System which is maintained and monitored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data included in the present study …
Public Perception of Gun Violence-Related Headline Accuracy and the Credibility of Media Sources
The present study sought to determine the extent to which the message or messenger is more important for news media portrayal of gun violence prevention. Exploratory analyses also examined factors related to Fox News and MSNBC credibility. Participants (N = 3,500) were US adults matched to the 2010 US Census on several demographic variables. Two mock headlines were presented: "Gun violence is result of mental health problems" and "Storing firearm…
Defensive Behaviors During Covid-19 and the 2020–2021 Firearm Purchasing Surge
Objective: This study examined the extent to which political beliefs and public health behaviors cluster together and define distinct groups of individuals and whether those groups differ on firearm purchasing behaviors. Methods: 6,404 US residents (Minnesota, n = 1,789; Mississippi, n = 1,418; New Jersey, n = 3,197) were recruited via Qualtrics panels. Participants were matched to 2010 census data. Results: Fit statistics determined a four-class…
Demographic differences in the type of firearm and location of bodily injury in firearm suicide decedents
This study describes the type of firearm used and location of bodily injury among demographic subgroups of suicide decedents. Data on those who died by suicide via firearm from the National Violent Death Reporting System ( N = 117,126) between the years 2003-2018 was utilized. A series of five logistic regression analyses examining the age of decedent, type of firearm, location of wound site, loaded vs. unloaded firearms, and locked vs. unlocked …
Understanding Risk and Implementing Data-Driven Solutions for Firearm Suicide
Each year, firearms account for half of all the suicide deaths in the U.S. Research has shown that, worldwide, the most effective way to prevent suicide is so-called means safety: making the tools and methods of suicide less accessible and less lethal. In the U.S., research has shown, time and again, that access to firearms increases the risk for suicide death, particularly when firearms are not stored safely. Means safety, therefore, could be a …
Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard
Objectives. To examine whether lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks prompt safe firearm storage relative to control among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard. Methods. This randomized controlled trial utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design (lethal means counseling vs control, provision of cable locks vs no cable locks). Follow-up assessments took place at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Data were collected (n = 232;…
Dispositional characteristics in firearm ownership and purchasing behavior during the 2020 purchasing surge
Examining Relationships between Gender, Opioid Dependence, and Distress Tolerance among Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Background: Opioid abuse/dependence is associated with multiple negative outcomes relative to other forms of substance abuse/dependence, including relapse. Research identifying modifiable characteristics associated with opioid dependence and associated negative outcomes may inform the development of targeted interventions for this high-risk population. One factor warranting investigation is low distress tolerance (DT). Purpose/Objectives: In a sa…
Suicide attempt trends leading up to and following gun lock changes in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act
Purpose Firearms account for the majority of suicide deaths in the US military and general population. The percentage of suicides resulting from firearms is higher in the military, however, and as such, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts is lower in the military than in the general population. In 2013, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which facilitated a Department of Defense (DoD) shift toward allowing comm…
Anestis Responds
Military personnel compared to multiple suicide attempters
The current study aimed to address the discrepancy between suicide rates in the military and general population by comparing facets of the interpersonal theory of suicide between civilians with multiple suicide attempts and U.S. military personnel. Military personnel exhibited higher levels of capability for suicide but lower levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness than civilian multiple attempters. When comparing only perso…
Advancing Suicide Prevention Through a Focus on Firearm Safety
Anestis et al. Respond
Anestis et al. Respond Affiliation Michael D. Anestis PhD, Joye C. Anestis PhD, and Sarah E. Butterworth BSAll of the authors are with the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.CopyRightCorrespondence should be sent to Michael D. Anestis, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr, Box 5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 (e-mail: michael.[email protected]edu). Reprints can be orde…
Handgun Legislation and Changes in Statewide Overall Suicide Rates
Objectives. To examine the extent to which 4 laws regulating handgun ownership were associated with statewide suicide rate changes. Methods. To test between-group differences in statewide suicide rate changes between 2013 and 2014 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with and without specific laws, we ran analyses of covariance. Results. We found significant differences in suicide rate changes from 2013 to 2014 in states with mandatory w…
Health conditions, physical disabilities, perceived burdensomeness, and depressive symptoms influence suicidal ideation
The roles of perceived burdensomeness and depressive symptoms in the relationship between physical disabilities or health conditions and suicidal ideation warrant examination. The authors examined indirect effects using cross-sectional data from adults who answered questions online. The serial indirect effect of the number of physical disabilities on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and depressive symptoms was not significant, b…
Emotional dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and self-injurious and suicidal behavior
This study used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships between emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide. One hundred forty-eight undergraduates completed a brief structured interview and self-report measures of emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and NSSI and suicidal behaviors. Results indicated a significant indirect effect of emotion dysregulation on NSSI via inter…
Grit and Perseverance in Suicidal Behavior and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Data indicate persistence facilitates suicidal behavior. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is characterized by difficulty persisting while upset. The relationship between NSSI and suicidal behavior thus may hinge upon persistence. Participants were 604 undergraduates (79.5% women; 42.4% African American; 6.1% with 1 + prior suicide attempt). Data were collected online via self-report and analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. As expected,…
Physical Disability and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
Interpersonal Theory of Suicide constructs were examined in individuals with physical disabilities, a population identified as having heightened suicidal ideation. Students (N = 184) answered online-based self-report questionnaires. Students with physical disabilities (n = 49) were expected to endorse higher levels of constructs relative to other students (n = 133). Analyses of covariance indicated that those with disabilities reported higher per…
Suicide Rates and State Laws Regulating Access and Exposure to Handguns
Objectives. Using previous research, we examined the impact of 4 handgun laws (waiting periods, universal background checks, gun locks, and open carrying regulations) on suicide rates. Methods. We used publicly available databases to collect information on statewide laws, suicide rates, and demographic characteristics for 2013. Results. Each law was associated with significantly lower firearm suicide rates and the proportion of suicides resulting…
Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard
Objectives. To examine whether lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks prompt safe firearm storage relative to control among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard. Methods. This randomized controlled trial utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design (lethal means counseling vs control, provision of cable locks vs no cable locks). Follow-up assessments took place at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Data were collected (n = 232;…
Grit and Perseverance in Suicidal Behavior and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Data indicate persistence facilitates suicidal behavior. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is characterized by difficulty persisting while upset. The relationship between NSSI and suicidal behavior thus may hinge upon persistence. Participants were 604 undergraduates (79.5% women; 42.4% African American; 6.1% with 1 + prior suicide attempt). Data were collected online via self-report and analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. As expected,…
Frequency, recency, and variety of gun violence exposure
Dispositional characteristics in firearm ownership and purchasing behavior during the 2020 purchasing surge
Physical Disability and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
Interpersonal Theory of Suicide constructs were examined in individuals with physical disabilities, a population identified as having heightened suicidal ideation. Students (N = 184) answered online-based self-report questionnaires. Students with physical disabilities (n = 49) were expected to endorse higher levels of constructs relative to other students (n = 133). Analyses of covariance indicated that those with disabilities reported higher per…
The Association Between State Laws Regulating Handgun Ownership and Statewide Suicide Rates
Objectives. We examined the impact of 3 state laws (permit to purchase a handgun, registration of handguns, license to own a handgun) on suicide rates. Methods. We used 2010 data from publicly available databases and state legislatures to assess the relationships between our predictors and outcomes. Results. Results largely indicated that states with any of these laws in place exhibited lower overall suicide rates and suicide by firearms rates an…
Handgun Legislation and Changes in Statewide Overall Suicide Rates
Objectives. To examine the extent to which 4 laws regulating handgun ownership were associated with statewide suicide rate changes. Methods. To test between-group differences in statewide suicide rate changes between 2013 and 2014 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with and without specific laws, we ran analyses of covariance. Results. We found significant differences in suicide rate changes from 2013 to 2014 in states with mandatory w…
Emotional dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and self-injurious and suicidal behavior
This study used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships between emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide. One hundred forty-eight undergraduates completed a brief structured interview and self-report measures of emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and NSSI and suicidal behaviors. Results indicated a significant indirect effect of emotion dysregulation on NSSI via inter…
Military personnel compared to multiple suicide attempters
The current study aimed to address the discrepancy between suicide rates in the military and general population by comparing facets of the interpersonal theory of suicide between civilians with multiple suicide attempts and U.S. military personnel. Military personnel exhibited higher levels of capability for suicide but lower levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness than civilian multiple attempters. When comparing only perso…
Advancing Suicide Prevention Through a Focus on Firearm Safety
Understanding the relationship between emotional and behavioral dysregulation
Grit and Perseverance in Suicidal Behavior and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Data indicate persistence facilitates suicidal behavior. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is characterized by difficulty persisting while upset. The relationship between NSSI and suicidal behavior thus may hinge upon persistence. Participants were 604 undergraduates (79.5% women; 42.4% African American; 6.1% with 1 + prior suicide attempt). Data were collected online via self-report and analyzed using hierarchical multiple regression. As expected,…
Physical Disability and the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide
Interpersonal Theory of Suicide constructs were examined in individuals with physical disabilities, a population identified as having heightened suicidal ideation. Students (N = 184) answered online-based self-report questionnaires. Students with physical disabilities (n = 49) were expected to endorse higher levels of constructs relative to other students (n = 133). Analyses of covariance indicated that those with disabilities reported higher per…
The Association Between State Laws Regulating Handgun Ownership and Statewide Suicide Rates
Objectives. We examined the impact of 3 state laws (permit to purchase a handgun, registration of handguns, license to own a handgun) on suicide rates. Methods. We used 2010 data from publicly available databases and state legislatures to assess the relationships between our predictors and outcomes. Results. Results largely indicated that states with any of these laws in place exhibited lower overall suicide rates and suicide by firearms rates an…
Suicide Rates and State Laws Regulating Access and Exposure to Handguns
Objectives. Using previous research, we examined the impact of 4 handgun laws (waiting periods, universal background checks, gun locks, and open carrying regulations) on suicide rates. Methods. We used publicly available databases to collect information on statewide laws, suicide rates, and demographic characteristics for 2013. Results. Each law was associated with significantly lower firearm suicide rates and the proportion of suicides resulting…
Health conditions, physical disabilities, perceived burdensomeness, and depressive symptoms influence suicidal ideation
The roles of perceived burdensomeness and depressive symptoms in the relationship between physical disabilities or health conditions and suicidal ideation warrant examination. The authors examined indirect effects using cross-sectional data from adults who answered questions online. The serial indirect effect of the number of physical disabilities on suicidal ideation through perceived burdensomeness and depressive symptoms was not significant, b…
Emotional dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and self-injurious and suicidal behavior
This study used structural equation modeling to examine the relationships between emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), and suicide. One hundred forty-eight undergraduates completed a brief structured interview and self-report measures of emotion dysregulation, internalizing symptoms, and NSSI and suicidal behaviors. Results indicated a significant indirect effect of emotion dysregulation on NSSI via inter…
Military personnel compared to multiple suicide attempters
The current study aimed to address the discrepancy between suicide rates in the military and general population by comparing facets of the interpersonal theory of suicide between civilians with multiple suicide attempts and U.S. military personnel. Military personnel exhibited higher levels of capability for suicide but lower levels of perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness than civilian multiple attempters. When comparing only perso…
Advancing Suicide Prevention Through a Focus on Firearm Safety
Anestis et al. Respond
Anestis et al. Respond Affiliation Michael D. Anestis PhD, Joye C. Anestis PhD, and Sarah E. Butterworth BSAll of the authors are with the Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg.CopyRightCorrespondence should be sent to Michael D. Anestis, PhD, Department of Psychology, University of Southern Mississippi, 118 College Dr, Box 5025, Hattiesburg, MS 39406 (e-mail: michael.[email protected]edu). Reprints can be orde…
Handgun Legislation and Changes in Statewide Overall Suicide Rates
Objectives. To examine the extent to which 4 laws regulating handgun ownership were associated with statewide suicide rate changes. Methods. To test between-group differences in statewide suicide rate changes between 2013 and 2014 in all 50 states and the District of Columbia with and without specific laws, we ran analyses of covariance. Results. We found significant differences in suicide rate changes from 2013 to 2014 in states with mandatory w…
Anestis Responds
Suicide attempt trends leading up to and following gun lock changes in the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act
Purpose Firearms account for the majority of suicide deaths in the US military and general population. The percentage of suicides resulting from firearms is higher in the military, however, and as such, the ratio of non-lethal to lethal suicide attempts is lower in the military than in the general population. In 2013, Congress passed the National Defense Authorization Act, which facilitated a Department of Defense (DoD) shift toward allowing comm…
Examining Relationships between Gender, Opioid Dependence, and Distress Tolerance among Patients in Substance Use Disorder Treatment
Background: Opioid abuse/dependence is associated with multiple negative outcomes relative to other forms of substance abuse/dependence, including relapse. Research identifying modifiable characteristics associated with opioid dependence and associated negative outcomes may inform the development of targeted interventions for this high-risk population. One factor warranting investigation is low distress tolerance (DT). Purpose/Objectives: In a sa…
Lethal Means Counseling, Distribution of Cable Locks, and Safe Firearm Storage Practices Among the Mississippi National Guard
Objectives. To examine whether lethal means counseling and provision of cable locks prompt safe firearm storage relative to control among firearm-owning members of the Mississippi National Guard. Methods. This randomized controlled trial utilized a 2 × 2 factorial design (lethal means counseling vs control, provision of cable locks vs no cable locks). Follow-up assessments took place at 3 and 6 months after baseline. Data were collected (n = 232;…
Dispositional characteristics in firearm ownership and purchasing behavior during the 2020 purchasing surge
Demographic differences in the type of firearm and location of bodily injury in firearm suicide decedents
This study describes the type of firearm used and location of bodily injury among demographic subgroups of suicide decedents. Data on those who died by suicide via firearm from the National Violent Death Reporting System ( N = 117,126) between the years 2003-2018 was utilized. A series of five logistic regression analyses examining the age of decedent, type of firearm, location of wound site, loaded vs. unloaded firearms, and locked vs. unlocked …
Understanding Risk and Implementing Data-Driven Solutions for Firearm Suicide
Each year, firearms account for half of all the suicide deaths in the U.S. Research has shown that, worldwide, the most effective way to prevent suicide is so-called means safety: making the tools and methods of suicide less accessible and less lethal. In the U.S., research has shown, time and again, that access to firearms increases the risk for suicide death, particularly when firearms are not stored safely. Means safety, therefore, could be a …
Public Perception of Gun Violence-Related Headline Accuracy and the Credibility of Media Sources
The present study sought to determine the extent to which the message or messenger is more important for news media portrayal of gun violence prevention. Exploratory analyses also examined factors related to Fox News and MSNBC credibility. Participants (N = 3,500) were US adults matched to the 2010 US Census on several demographic variables. Two mock headlines were presented: "Gun violence is result of mental health problems" and "Storing firearm…
Defensive Behaviors During Covid-19 and the 2020–2021 Firearm Purchasing Surge
Objective: This study examined the extent to which political beliefs and public health behaviors cluster together and define distinct groups of individuals and whether those groups differ on firearm purchasing behaviors. Methods: 6,404 US residents (Minnesota, n = 1,789; Mississippi, n = 1,418; New Jersey, n = 3,197) were recruited via Qualtrics panels. Participants were matched to 2010 census data. Results: Fit statistics determined a four-class…
Citizen-Driven Firearm Safety Policies in a Rural Pennsylvania County
We explore data from focus group interviews ( n = 25) and community surveys ( n = 630) to examine resident support for policies to reduce firearm injuries in a rural Pennsylvania county. The data highlights overwhelming community support for integrating firearms safety education for persons under the age of 18 years. Support for expanding safe storage options and safety training varied significantly based on a resident’s own firearm ownership, co…
Honor Endorsement and Increased Firearm Purchasing Behavior and Intentions During the Covid-19 Pandemic
The surge in firearm sales from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been linked to increases in firearm violence, which is of public concern given that having firearms in one's home is associated with increased risk for domestic violence and suicide. Consistent with pre-pandemic trends, individuals tended to purchase firearms for self-protection during COVID-19. Prior work indicates that protective firearm ownership is motivated not only by p…
Female military service members and veterans
To examine the differences in treatment seeking behaviors, previous suicidal thoughts, previous suicide attempts, and disclosure of suicidal thoughts among female service members (SM)/Veteran suicide decedents who used a firearm and those who used another method. Data was acquired from the National Violent Death Reporting System which is maintained and monitored by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Data included in the present study …
Frequency, recency, and variety of gun violence exposure
Local homicides increase suicide in US counties
Medicine (24 works) · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies (24 works) · Poison control (22 works) · Suicide prevention (22 works) · Gun Ownership and Violence Research (21 works) · Injury prevention (20 works) · Human Factors and Ergonomics (17 works) · Environmental health (14 works) · Occupational safety and health (14 works) · Psychology (14 works)