Cross-National Determinants of Child Homicide

Abstract

This paper uses cross-national data on child homicide to develop a societal-level model of child abuse. Analysis of hypotheses emerging from four perspectives on abuse suggests that a focus on economic stress is most useful in explaining cross-national variation in child homicide in developed countries. High levels of female labor-force participation, coupled with low levels of female status and welfare spending, result in high child-homicide rates. No perspective provides hypotheses able to explain cross-national variation in child homicide in less-developed countries. The limitations of the present study are noted and avenues for future empirical and theoretical work are discussed. (Abstract Adapted from Source: American Sociological Review, 1988. Copyright © 1988 by the American Sociological Association) Child Abuse Homicide Child Abuse Causes Child Physical Abuse Causes Domestic Homicide Domestic Violence Causes Homicide Causes Mother Employment Employment Factors Cross National Comparison Cross National Differences Cross National Analysis Child Homicide 07-02