Full Citation
Title: Behavioral Responses to Mass Shootings: Physical Activity, Mental Health and Labor Outcomes
Citation Type: Miscellaneous
Publication Year: 2020
ISBN:
ISSN:
DOI:
NSFID:
PMCID:
PMID:
Abstract: The odds of experiencing a public mass shooting in first person are low. Approximately 411 people have died in such tragic events during the past decade in the United States. However, the high saliency of mass shooting events might induce changes in behavior that may pose an external cost on society. In this paper, I estimate the impact of indirect exposure to high profile acts of violence on behavior by using information on 45 mass shootings from 2003 to 2016. Using individual-level data, I find that being within 250 miles shortly after a mass shooting, individuals overall activity levels decrease by 1.7 percent. This decline is equivalent to a daily 16 minute walk. For an average weight person, this decline would mean 50 less calories burned per day. The decline in activity is mainly explained by a 10 percent decrease in minutes of moderate to vigorous activities and is driven mostly by individuals under 30. In addition to a decrease in activity levels, I find an increase in the probability of having more days where perceived mental health is poor. And interestingly, I find an increase in the probability of binge drinking. Finally, I also find a statistically significant decrease of 10.6 minutes worked per week shortly after a mass shooting has occurred. These results show that aside from direct victims, mass shootings also impact the short-term behavior of a broader portion of the population.
Url: https://raranda.com/files/Rodrigo_Aranda_MSIBehav.pdf
User Submitted?: No
Authors: Aranda, Rodrigo
Publisher: Georgia State University
Data Collections: IPUMS CPS
Topics: Crime and Deviance, Labor Force and Occupational Structure
Countries: