Abstract
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. Fiftytwo 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.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 531-542 |
Number of pages | 12 |
Journal | American Journal of Health Behavior |
Volume | 37 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2013 |
Keywords
- Children
- Homicide-suicide
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Health(social science)
- Social Psychology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health