Emotional impact of mass shootings

Researchers analyzed survey responses from approximately 750 US adults per day between 2008 and 2016 about their emotions, and compared responses from individuals interviewed in the 4 weeks before a mass shooting with responses from individuals who were interviewed up to 4 weeks after a shooting; the authors found a strong emotional response in the days following a mass shooting, but the response was limited to individuals living within the city where the shooting occurred and faded within a week of the incident, according to the authors.

Article #21-00846: “The effect of mass shootings on daily emotions is limited by time, geographic proximity, and political affiliation,” by Patrick Sharkey and Yinzhi Shen.

MEDIA CONTACT: Patrick Sharkey, Princeton University, NJ; email:

[email protected]

; Yinzhi Shen, Princeton University, NJ; email:

[email protected]

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