The 1994-1995 Baseball and Hockey Strikes and Their Impact on Suicide and Homicide Rates in the United States

Because some individuals’ identities are influenced by an affiliation with professional sports teams, the impact of the 1994-1995 professional baseball & hockey strikes on suicide & homicide rates is examined. Gabennesh’s (1988) theory of broken promises is used to examine the relationship between strikes & homicide/suicide rates. Controlling for divorce, unemployment rates, & seasonality, results show a positive relationship between homicide rates, but not suicide rates, & the strikes. Gabennesch’s theory is reformulated to explain these findngs. (36 refs)