Date
10-14-2026
Department
School of Behavioral Sciences
Degree
Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)
Chair
Mollie Evans Boyd
Keywords
gun violence, psychological effects, marginalized communities, underserved communities, St. Louis, mental health, psychosocial supports, phenomenology, Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory
Disciplines
Education | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Recommended Citation
Martinez, Desirae Mecole, "Understanding the Lived Experiences of Gun Violence on Psychological Functioning and Perceived Psychosocial Supports in St. Louis’s Marginalized and Underserved Communities" (2026). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 9009.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/9009
Abstract
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies gun violence as a leading public health concern in the United States. Marginalized and underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by poverty and crime, including firearm violence. Gun violence exposure has been linked to complex trauma, anxiety, substance use disorders, and depression. St. Louis, Missouri, has one of the highest rates of gun violence and mortality in the nation; however, research lacks an understanding of the psychological toll. Limited phenomenological research has examined how adults residing in marginalized and underserved communities experience gun violence exposure psychologically and perceive psychosocial supports. This study explored the lived experiences of gun violence exposure as they pertained to psychological functioning and perceived psychosocial supports among individuals residing in St. Louis’s marginalized and underserved communities. Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Systems Theory framework was applied to understand the personal, relational, community, and societal factors associated with gun violence. This study employed Moustakas’ (1994) transcendental phenomenological methodology with 12 adults who participated in virtual semi-structured interviews. Five themes emerged: Psychological Disruption Following Gun Violence Exposure, Altered Daily Functioning and Adaptation, Psychosocial Support and Coping After Exposure, Barriers to Support and Institutional Response, and Shared Lived Experiences of Chronic Gun Violence. Findings reflected psychological disruption, changes in daily functioning, adaptation, perceived psychosocial supports, barriers to support, and community resilience following gun violence exposure.
