Reassessing the Structural Covariates of Cross-National Infant Homicide Victimization

Abstract

Existing literature shows only four cross-national, longitudinal studies of infant homicide victimization. More than a decade has passed since this issue has been taken up in the literature. Consequently, our understanding of infant homicide over time at the cross-national level is limited. In this article, we build on the findings from these four studies using an expanded sample of countries, a longer time series, more valid measures, additional variables, and tests of gender differences. Our expanded analysis confirms many of the findings in the earlier studies but with a few important departures. As in earlier studies, the results confirm that female labor force participation and income inequality are significant predictors of infant homicide victimization rates. But we also found that compared with other countries, those that scored highest on culture of violence measures actually had significantly lower rates of infant homicide victimization.