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The relationship between war and homicide rates
Psychological Reports
|December 1, 1991
Summary
Military service was linked to reduced homicide rates in nonwhite populations but not white populations in the USA. This time-series analysis examined the period from 1933 to 1986.
Area of Science:
- Sociology
- Criminology
- Public Health
Background:
- The relationship between military service and societal violence is complex.
- Previous research has not fully explored demographic disparities in this association.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between the U.S. military participation rate and homicide rates.
- To examine if this association differs by race.
Main Methods:
- A longitudinal time-series analysis was conducted.
- Data spanned from 1933 to 1986 in the United States.
- National military participation rates and homicide rates were analyzed.
Main Results:
- A concurrent association was found between higher military participation rates and lower homicide rates.
- This association was significant for nonwhite individuals.
- No significant association was observed for white individuals.
Conclusions:
- Military conscription may have had a differential impact on homicide rates across racial groups.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind this disparity.