Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics
<b>Background:</b> Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is the most common form of femicide and a severe expression of gender-based violence, highlighting persistent gender inequality worldwide. Addressing this major public health concern requires a comprehensive synthesis of existing evidenc...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Brain Sciences |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/589 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849435120903127040 |
|---|---|
| author | Anastasia Koureta Manolis Gaganakis Eleni Georgiadou Vasilios P. Bozikas Agorastos Agorastos |
| author_facet | Anastasia Koureta Manolis Gaganakis Eleni Georgiadou Vasilios P. Bozikas Agorastos Agorastos |
| author_sort | Anastasia Koureta |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <b>Background:</b> Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is the most common form of femicide and a severe expression of gender-based violence, highlighting persistent gender inequality worldwide. Addressing this major public health concern requires a comprehensive synthesis of existing evidence to inform prevention strategies. This review aims to identify risk factors for IPF and explore the demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics of victims and perpetrators. <b>Methods:</b> A narrative review was conducted using a systematic literature search in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 1200 identified records, 51 met the criteria and were included. Data extraction and analysis were conducted independently by two reviewers. Findings are presented narratively. <b>Results:</b> The review identified multiple risk factors for IPF. Victims were more likely to be married, with a history of psychological and physical abuse as well as substance use. Perpetrators were typically older, with higher rates of unemployment, psychiatric disorders, and substance use. Common precipitating factors included jealousy, separation, and recurrent conflicts. Weapon use—particularly knives and firearms—and “overkill” were frequent. Perpetrators often exhibited stalking behaviors and a history of intimate partner violence. Compared to other homicide offenders, IPF perpetrators were generally older, more often employed, and less likely to have a criminal background, but more likely to engage in intimate partner violence and hold patriarchal beliefs. <b>Conclusions:</b> IPF is not an unpredictable act. Despite the heterogeneity among perpetrators, identifiable risk indicators can inform effective prevention and intervention efforts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-76bb9e709edf45c7bdb012ef848e2a84 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-76bb9e709edf45c7bdb012ef848e2a842025-08-20T03:26:25ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252025-05-0115658910.3390/brainsci15060589Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator CharacteristicsAnastasia Koureta0Manolis Gaganakis1Eleni Georgiadou2Vasilios P. Bozikas3Agorastos Agorastos4II. University Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56430 Thessaloniki, GreeceSchool of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56430 Thessaloniki, GreeceNorthwestern District Center for Mental Health, Psychiatric Hospital of Thessaloniki, 56430 Thessaloniki, GreeceII. University Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56430 Thessaloniki, GreeceII. University Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 56430 Thessaloniki, Greece<b>Background:</b> Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is the most common form of femicide and a severe expression of gender-based violence, highlighting persistent gender inequality worldwide. Addressing this major public health concern requires a comprehensive synthesis of existing evidence to inform prevention strategies. This review aims to identify risk factors for IPF and explore the demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial characteristics of victims and perpetrators. <b>Methods:</b> A narrative review was conducted using a systematic literature search in Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed, following PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Out of 1200 identified records, 51 met the criteria and were included. Data extraction and analysis were conducted independently by two reviewers. Findings are presented narratively. <b>Results:</b> The review identified multiple risk factors for IPF. Victims were more likely to be married, with a history of psychological and physical abuse as well as substance use. Perpetrators were typically older, with higher rates of unemployment, psychiatric disorders, and substance use. Common precipitating factors included jealousy, separation, and recurrent conflicts. Weapon use—particularly knives and firearms—and “overkill” were frequent. Perpetrators often exhibited stalking behaviors and a history of intimate partner violence. Compared to other homicide offenders, IPF perpetrators were generally older, more often employed, and less likely to have a criminal background, but more likely to engage in intimate partner violence and hold patriarchal beliefs. <b>Conclusions:</b> IPF is not an unpredictable act. Despite the heterogeneity among perpetrators, identifiable risk indicators can inform effective prevention and intervention efforts.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/589intimate partner violencefemicideabusepsychological profilemental health |
| spellingShingle | Anastasia Koureta Manolis Gaganakis Eleni Georgiadou Vasilios P. Bozikas Agorastos Agorastos Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics Brain Sciences intimate partner violence femicide abuse psychological profile mental health |
| title | Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics |
| title_full | Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics |
| title_fullStr | Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics |
| title_short | Heterosexual Intimate Partner Femicide: A Narrative Review of Victim and Perpetrator Characteristics |
| title_sort | heterosexual intimate partner femicide a narrative review of victim and perpetrator characteristics |
| topic | intimate partner violence femicide abuse psychological profile mental health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/15/6/589 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT anastasiakoureta heterosexualintimatepartnerfemicideanarrativereviewofvictimandperpetratorcharacteristics AT manolisgaganakis heterosexualintimatepartnerfemicideanarrativereviewofvictimandperpetratorcharacteristics AT elenigeorgiadou heterosexualintimatepartnerfemicideanarrativereviewofvictimandperpetratorcharacteristics AT vasiliospbozikas heterosexualintimatepartnerfemicideanarrativereviewofvictimandperpetratorcharacteristics AT agorastosagorastos heterosexualintimatepartnerfemicideanarrativereviewofvictimandperpetratorcharacteristics |