A multi-state examination of the victims of fatal adolescent intimate partner violence, 2011-2015.

Ashley Bush

doi:10.5249/jivr.v12i1.1197

Abstract

:Background:Fatal intimate partner violence occurs among adolescents, which is often when first exposure to intimate partner violence occurs in the United States. However, research mainly examines intimate partner violence-related fatalities between adult intimate partners. Such findings document that non-intimate partners, corollary victims, are at risk for violence during intimate partner violence incidents, as well. Research examining fatal intimate partner violence among adolescents is scant. This study informs public health of the extent and circumstances of fatal adolescent intimate partner violence by quantifying the burden across a five-year span; describing fatal victims by demographics and precipitating circumstances; and examining differences by victim type. Methods:This study used data from 17 states of the United States in the National Violent Death Reporting System to examine fatal intimate partner violence-related incidents involving at least one ado-lescent intimate partner (15-19 years of age) from 2011-2015. IPV-related death cases were guided by the intimate partner violence surveillance criteria prescribed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Decedents were subdivided into intimate partner victims, perpetrator victims, and corollary victims. Victims were described by demographics, victim descriptors, and precipitating circumstances of death. Annual trends and descriptive statistics were calculated. Results:There were 93 intimate partner violence-related fatal incidents among adolescents with 116 decedents. A firearm was the predominant weapon. Crises, arguments, jealousy, and physical fights were common precipitating circumstances. Corollary victims represented 18% of all victims, 65% were intimate partner victims, and 17% perpetrator victims. Corollary victims were primarily linked to the suspect by other intimate partners, and friends and acquaintances. Conclusions:Intimate partner violence is a preventable public health problem. This study documents that intimate partner violence among adolescents can result in deaths of intimate partners and corollary victims. Effective prevention should begin in early adolescence and incorporate shared and protective risk factors to have the greatest impact on adolescent IPV.

Highlights

As some states had only been participating in National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) for a short time, and did not have five consecutive years of population-level surveillance, they were excluded from this study, leaving 17 NVDRS states examined
Of the 116 deaths, single homicide deaths only accounted for 62.07% of the deaths, followed by single homicide followed by suicide (24.14%), multiple homicides followed by suicide (6.90%), and multiple homicides (6.90%)
Figure 1. displays the number of decedents resulting from Intimate partner violence (IPV)-related incidents involving at least one adolescent intimate partner from 2011-2015

Summary

Introduction

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is recognized at the state and federal levels as a major preventable public health problem that costs billions in mental health and healthcare services in addition to the associated trauma for survivors, family, and friends in the United States (U.S.). 1, 2 One-third of women and one-fourth of men will experience IPV in their lifetimes[3] with exposure to IPV first occurring during adolescence[1, 4] before theJ Inj Violence Res. 2020 Jan; 12(1): 73-83. doi: 10.5249/ jivr.v12i1.1197Journal homepage: http://www.jivresearch.org74 Injury & Violence age of 18.5, 6 The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey reports that the prevalence of first IPV victimization before the age of 18 was 3.7% (4,282,000) for males, and 7.1% (8,627,000) for females.[6]As adolescents engage in dating and romantic relationships, their risk for IPV exposure increases.[7]. Research mainly examines intimate partner violence-related fatalities between adult intimate partners. Such findings document that non-intimate partners, corollary victims, are at risk for violence during intimate partner violence incidents, as well. This study informs public health of the extent and circumstances of fatal adolescent intimate partner violence by quantifying the burden across a five-year span; describing fatal victims by demographics and precipitating circumstances; and examining differences by victim type. Methods: This study used data from 17 states of the United States in the National Violent Death Reporting System to examine fatal intimate partner violence-related incidents involving at least one adolescent intimate partner (15-19 years of age) from 2011-2015. This study documents that intimate partner violence among adolescents can result in deaths of intimate partners and corollary victims.

Methods

Results

Conclusion