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Violent crime runs in families: a total population study of 12.5 million individuals

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2010

T. Frisell ,
P. Lichtenstein  and
N. Långström
T. Frisell*
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
P. Lichtenstein
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
N. Långström
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: T. Frisell, M.Sc., Centre for Violence Prevention, Karolinska Institutet, PO Box 23000, 104 35Stockholm, Sweden. (Email: Thomas.Frisell@ki.se)
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Abstract

Background

Etiological theory and prior research with small or selected samples suggest that interpersonal violence clusters in families. However, the strength and pattern of this aggregation remains mostly unknown.

Method

We investigated all convictions for violent crime in Sweden 1973–2004 among more than 12.5 million individuals in the nationwide Multi-Generation Register, and compared rates of violent convictions among relatives of violent individuals with relatives of matched, non-violent controls, using a nested case–control design.

Results

We found strong familial aggregation of interpersonal violence among first-degree relatives [e.g. odds ratio (OR)sibling 4.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.2–4.3], lower for more distant relatives (e.g. ORcousin 1.9, 95% CI 1.9–1.9). Risk patterns across biological and adoptive relations provided evidence for both genetic and environmental influences on the development of violent behavior. Familial risks were stronger among women, in higher socio-economic strata, and for early onset interpersonal violence. There were crime-specific effects (e.g. ORsibling for arson 22.4, 95% CI 12.2–41.2), suggesting both general and subtype-specific familial risk factors for violent behavior.

Conclusions

The observed familiality should be accounted for in criminological research, applied violence risk assessment, and prevention efforts.

Keywords

Crimefamily studiesintergenerational transmissioninterpersonal violencenationwide registers
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 41 , Issue 1 , January 2011 , pp. 97 - 105
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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