Risk factors for femicide-suicide in abusive relationships: results from a multisite case control study

Violence Vict. 2006 Feb;21(1):3-21.

Abstract

The killing of women by men who then take their own lives (femicide-suicide) is the most common form of homicide-suicide. This study identified femicide-suicide risk factors in an 11-city case-control study of femicide in the United States. Perpetrator, victim, relationship, and incident characteristics were analyzed for femicide-suicide cases (n = 67) and controls (n = 356, women living in the community with nonfatal physical abuse) using logistic regression modeling. Two risk factors emerged that were unique to femicide-suicides cases compared to overall femicide risk analyses: prior perpetrator suicide threats and victims having ever been married to the perpetrator.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Battered Women / statistics & numerical data*
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Female
  • Homicide / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Multicenter Studies as Topic
  • Risk Factors
  • Socioeconomic Factors
  • Spouse Abuse / statistics & numerical data*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data*
  • Women's Health