Gender differences in filicide offense characteristics--a comprehensive register-based study of child murder in two European countries.

Objective: This study searched for gender differences in filicidal offense characteristics and associated variables.

Methods: In this bi-national register-based study all filicide perpetrators (75 mothers and 45 fathers) and their crimes in Austria and Finland 1995-2005 were examined for putative gender differences. The assessed variables were associated with the offense characteristics, the offenders' socioeconomic and criminal history, and related stressful events.