Correlates of state homicide rates

The social correlates of state homicide rates in 1980 differed for urban, suburban, and rural areas.     

Correlates of age-adjusted national homicide rates

In 1980, the correlates of unadjusted and age-adjusted national homicide rates differed, so the age-structure of nations should be controlled for in cross-national studies.     

Age-adjusted rates of suicide and homicide and fluoride

Using state data from 1992 and 2000 instead of 1975, the author both confirmed and extended Lester's 1987 study. Like Lester's study, the present replication showed for 1992 (but not 2000) that the more people drinking fluoridated water, the lower the rates of crude and age-adjusted suicide (partial rs: -.25 and -.25, respectively). Crude and age-adjusted rates of homicide in 1992 and 2000 did not change with the fluoridation of public water. Effective interpretation requires more study.     

National character and rates of suicide and homicide

Hofstede's personality scores for workers in 50 nations were not associated with national homicide rates in 1980. Suicide rates were, however, negatively associated with power-distance scores.     

Nations' rated individualism and suicide and homicide rates

Individualism ratings for 27 nations were not associated with suicide or homicide rates after controls for per capita gross domestic product.     

National estimates of IQ and suicide and homicide rates

Nations with high estimated mean IQ scores had higher suicide rates and lower homicide rates after control for gross domestic product was introduced, significantly in 1970 but not in 1980.     

Collectivism and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide)

Homicide rates, but not suicide rates, were associated with an index of collectivism for the states of America in 1992.     

Problem behaviors and suicide and homicide

In a sample of 36 nations, suicide rates were negatively associated with a drug abuse index. Homicide rates were positively associated with a violent crime index.     

Regional variation in suicide and homicide

Violence in American cities was examined by classifying each city as high versus low in its homicide rate and high versus low in its suicide rate. Four groups of cities were identified on the basis of this classification, and their characteristics were explored. Differences were found in crime rates, poverty, population density, racial composition, latitude, and longitude. The implications of the results were examined.     

Rorschach object relations of adolescents who committed homicide.

We investigated the object relations of adolescents who committed homicide. A clinical sample of 55 adolescents who committed homicide did not differ from a comparison group of nonviolent delinquents on Rorschach measures of object differentiation, mutuality of autonomy, and aggressive content. However, the subgroup of adolescents who committed homicides in the context of another crime (e.g., robbery or burglary) did manifest significantly lower object relations (poorer object differentiation and more victim responses) than the subgroup of adolescents whose homicides were committed in the context of an interpersonal conflict or dispute with the victim. These findings support the need for differentiated classification of violent individuals as urged by Megargee (1970) over 20 years ago.     

Temporal and geographic trends in homicide and suicide rates in Mexico,from 1998 through 2012

We analyze and discuss the temporal and geographic trends in the officially registered violence-related deaths (216,462 homicides and 77,334 suicides) that occurred between 1998 and 2012 on Mexican territory. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were fitted, separately for men and women and different age groups, where (a) the evolution of the log-odds of the homicide and suicide rates over time was assumed to follow a piecewise linear function and (b) the geographic variation in the latter function was accounted for by random effects associated with the 2,456 municipalities in the country. The homicide analyses show that, although the absolute homicide rates strongly differ between men and women (with a factor of about 10), the overall temporal trends for women between 16 and 49 years and men between 16 and 60 years of age are remarkably similar, in that the rates decrease until 2007 and strongly increase afterwards. In absolute terms, men between 20 and 49 years form the most vulnerable group with an averaged homicide rate in 2012 of over 40 per 100,000. Geographically, homicide rates in 2012 are found to be the highest in the states known for the drugs-related violence, which are also the states where the increase between 2007 and 2010 was the strongest. As to the suicide rates, a steady increase was found over the 15-year study period in females between 12 and 39 years and in men between 12 and 49 years of age, while in the other age groups, the rates remained relatively constant. On average, a completed suicide is about eight times more likely in adult men than in adult women (although important interactions with age should be considered); men between 20 and 49 years of age, together with those over 75, are most vulnerable, with an average suicide rate of over 10 per 100,000 in 2012. In order to decrease the levels of violence in Mexico, moving beyond the political rhetoric and the implementation of evidence-based prevention programs are imperative.     

The participation of females in the labor force and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide)

This study explored the relationship between the participation of married women in the labor force, both part-time and full-time, and rates of personal violence (suicide and homicide) in the continental United States. The participation of married women in the labor force was related to homicide rates. Homicide rates were higher in states where a greater percentage of married women worked full-time. In contrast, suicide rates were more strongly related to indices of social integration (e.g., interstate migration and divorce rates). These results are discussed in terms of differences in social attitudes in the various regions of the United States and the stresses created by women's working.     

Violent death among intimate partners: a comparison of homicide and homicide followed by suicide in California.

This study examines all intimate partner homicides in California during 1996 (N=186), and differences between intimate partner homicides with and without perpetrator suicide are compared. The study found that 40 percent of perpetrators committed suicide subsequent to the homicide. Variables examined in the analysis include type of weapon used, race, age, sex of perpetrators and victims, and location of the homicide. Significant differences were found between homicides with perpetrator suicide and those without. The results lend support to previous research suggesting that intimate partner homicide and homicide followed by suicide have different characteristics and possibly distinct etiologies.