NCJ Number
208452
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 26 Issue: 2 Dated: February 2002 Pages: 167-186
Date Published
February 2002
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This study sought to identify factors related to fatal child abuse in the United States Air Force (USAF).
Abstract
While studies of family violence within the military have amassed in the literature, only one of these looks specifically at fatal child abuse. The current study examined the records of 32 substantiated cases of fatal child abuse in the USAF for 3 different age groups: infant victims (between 24 hours and 1 year of age), young child victims (between 1 and 4 years of age), and child victims (between 4 and 15 years of age). The authors independently reviewed the 32 records of substantiated fatal child abuse for the presence of 60 predefined factors involving the victim, the perpetrator, the family, and the incident. Results of the analysis indicate that several factors appear to differentiate infant, young child, and older child filicide victims. Males were overrepresented among the young child victims and older child victims, while African-Americans were overrepresented among infant victims and perpetrators. Perpetrators were primarily the biological fathers; younger victims were more likely to have been abused prior to the fatal incident. Perpetrators who abused infants and young children were more likely to report childhood abuse histories, whereas perpetrators who abused older children were more likely to report mental health contact. Families of victims experienced many stressors and deleterious outcomes, including a higher likelihood of divorce. Fatal incidents were more likely to occur on the weekend, in the home, and as a result of a family disturbance. Future research should focus specifically on the factors associated with death in these three age groups. Tables, references