Homicide-followed-by-suicide incidents involving child victims Joseph E. Logan, Sabrina Walsh, Nimeshkumar Patel and Jeffrey E. Hall
Material type:
ArticleSeries: American Journal of Health BehaviorPublication details: 2013Subject(s): Online resources:
In: American Journal of Health Behavior, 2013, 37(4): 531-542Summary: Objectives: To describe homicide-followed-by-suicide incidents involving child victims
Methods: Using 2003–2009 National Violent Death Reporting System data, we characterized 129 incidents based on victim and perpetrator demographic information, their relationships, the weapons/mechanisms involved, and the perpetrators’ health and stress-related circumstances.
Results: These incidents accounted for 188 child deaths; 69% were under 11 years old, and 58% were killed with a firearm. Approximately 76% of perpetrators were males, and 75% were parents/caregivers. Eighty-one percent of incidents with paternal perpetrators and 59% with maternal perpetrators were preceded by parental discord. Fifty-two percent of incidents with maternal perpetrators were associated with maternal psychiatric problems.
Conclusions: Strategies that resolve parental conflicts rationally and facilitate detection and treatment of parental mental conditions might help prevention efforts. (Authors' abstract). Record #6545
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American Journal of Health Behavior, 2013, 37(4): 531-542
Objectives: To describe homicide-followed-by-suicide incidents involving child victims
Methods: Using 2003–2009 National Violent Death Reporting System data, we characterized 129 incidents based on victim and perpetrator demographic information, their relationships, the weapons/mechanisms involved, and the perpetrators’ health and stress-related circumstances.
Results: These incidents accounted for 188 child deaths; 69% were under 11 years old, and 58% were killed with a firearm. Approximately 76% of perpetrators were males, and 75% were parents/caregivers. Eighty-one percent of incidents with paternal perpetrators and 59% with maternal perpetrators were preceded by parental discord. Fifty-two percent of incidents with maternal perpetrators were associated with maternal psychiatric problems.
Conclusions: Strategies that resolve parental conflicts rationally and facilitate detection and treatment of parental mental conditions might help prevention efforts. (Authors' abstract). Record #6545