Youth homicide, gender, and alcohol: Cross national comparisons

The study of youth homicide is North America has been limited by its focus on U.S. data and cross sectional analyses, and by a lack of consideration of alcohol in youth homicide causation.  European research has been more dynamic and dealt extensively with the alcohol and violence relationship, but these studies also have limited generalizability. A cross national dynamic analyses of homicide victimization by gender is reported here, as an extension and replication of Gartner's (1990) theoretical model of homicide, with alcohol related concepts integrated into this model.  Results based on the analysis of 17 nation states, 1950-2000,  provide evidence that two aspects of alcohol related behavior, consumption rates and the drinking culture, interact with divorce to cause youth homicide victimization.  Further, gender differences are found in the nature of these interactions; the importance of these results for youth homicide causation and violence prevention policy are discussed.