ESP-3600

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2025-06-23

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Vol. 10 No. 6 (2025): Published

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Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2025 Sifiso Shabangu, Melanie Moen

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How to Cite

Shabangu, S., & Moen, M. (2025). Childhood experiences as potential pathways to filicide offending. Environment and Social Psychology, 10(6), ESP-3600. https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i6.3600

Childhood experiences as potential pathways to filicide offending

Sifiso Shabangu

Department of Educational Psychology, Stellenbosch University, 7600, South Africa

Melanie Moen

Department of Educational Psychology, Stellenbosch University, 7600, South Africa


DOI: https://doi.org/10.59429/esp.v10i6.3600


Keywords: abuse; cycle of violence; children; ecology; resources; corrections

Abstract

Unfortunately, the act of killing one’s child, known as filicide, is a historical part of the human experience. Although studies of first-hand accounts from filicide offenders have been conducted and provide invaluable information for understanding and mitigating filicide, researchers often focus on the adult life experiences of these filicidal parents. Information on the childhood experiences of filicide offenders is typically lacking, which hinders prevention efforts, particularly as such experiences are linked to adult health and behavioural outcomes, including physical abuse and filicide. To address this gap, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 parents incarcerated for filicide across five correctional centres in eSwatini. A thematic analysis of the data revealed that the childhoods of filicide offenders in eSwatini are characterized by several adverse childhood experiences. Six themes emerged: absent or unstable relationships with biological parents, exposure to abuse and violence, economic hardship and its consequences, alcohol abuse and exposure, socio-cultural influences during childhood, and supportive parental figures. There is a need to provide communities with resources such as mental health services, fatherhood support programs, and education on non-violent forms of discipline to break the cycles of violence and abuse. All ecologies should work together to establish community-based childcare spaces so that young mothers do not have to sacrifice their education. We, therefore, propose intervening in childhood to mitigate adversities, as they are likely to serve as pathways to filicide.

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