Background factors and prevention of familicides from the perspective of victims’ loved ones

Abstract

Familicides cause a lot of human suffering among the people close to the affected family as well as more broadly in society. It is important that we can prevent familicides by identifying their background factors. The purpose of this study was to describe the victims’ loved ones’ experiences of the background factors and prevention of familicides. The aim was to identify the risk of familicide based on produced evidence and to help develop forms of support for families in an effort to prevent familicides. The study was carried out using an electronic survey. The survey was filled out by 17 familicide victims’ loved ones, out of which 11 also took part in a theme interview. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Based on the loved ones’ descriptions, the factors underlying familicides were related to the family and intimate partnership, the perpetrator’s personal and social situation, childhood and professionals. The loved ones felt familicides could be prevented with factors related to receiving help, professionals and society. The experiences of victims’ loved ones reveal and strengthen knowledge of the background factors whose identification and consideration help prevent familicides. The loved ones also suggested concrete measures that they found beneficial for prevention based on their experience.