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Cited by 52Family Dynamics and RelationshipsTerrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political ViolenceAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

Did divorces decline after the Oklahoma City bombing?

Nakonezny, Paul A., Reddick, Rebecca, Rodgers, Joseph Lee·2004·Journal of Marriage and Family
DOI 10.1111/j.1741-3737.2004.00007.x
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Abstract

The Oklahoma City bombing in April 1995 was an act of terrorism that had many potential influences on the city and state, including influences on families. We analyzed divorce data from 1985 to 2000 for all 77 counties in Oklahoma to assess the divorce response to the Oklahoma City bombing. Our prediction was that divorce rates in Oklahoma would decrease in response to the bombing, a prediction derived from two different theoretical orientations, terror management theory and attachment theory. We test this prediction in the context of two relatively powerful quasi‐experimental designs, an interrupted time series design, and a nonequivalent control group design. We analyze the time series data with polynomial regression. Results suggested that there were lower observed divorce rates following the Oklahoma City bombing than the prevailing 10‐year cubic divorce trend would have predicted, with the effect dampening over time. We analyzed the nonequivalent control group design using an analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) linear model to compare counties in and around Oklahoma City to those farther away, and to compare metropolitan to nonmetropolitan counties in Oklahoma. In each case, divorces were lower in the predicted directions.

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  • The 1995 Oklahoma City bombing was associated with reductions in divorce rates in the surrounding counties following the attack.

    “the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, which presumably made salient existential fears of death, have been associated with reductions in divorce rates in the surrounding counties following the attack”

    From When Death is Good for Life: Considering the Positive Trajectories of Terror Management (2012) · cites this paper as Nakonezny, Reddick, & Rodgers, 2004

  • After the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing, divorce rates in the surrounding counties dropped.

    “After the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing (which no doubt activated thoughts of death), divorce rates in the surrounding counties dropped [45].”

    From An Appreciative View of the Brighter Side of Terror Management Processes (2015) · cites this paper as [45]

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Authors
Nakonezny, P. A., Reddick, R., & Rodgers, J. L.
Affiliations
  • University of North Texas (US)
  • University of Oklahoma (US)
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Marriage and Family
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2004-02
Volume
66
Issue
1
Pages
90-100
ISSN
  • 0022-2445 (ISSN-L)
  • 1741-3737
DOI
10.1111/j.1741-3737.2004.00007.x
OpenAlex
W2048809062
Cited by
52
References
38
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 10 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 1 · 2012: 5
FWCI
3.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/termsAndConditions#vor (vor, 179 d)
Locations
Journal of Marriage and the Family (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Terrorism, Counterterrorism, and Political Violence
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords
Oklahoma City bombing, divorce rates, terrorism, terror management theory, attachment theory, Oklahoma County, interrupted time series

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