THE EFFECTS OF MARITAL-STATUS AND SOCIAL-ISOLATION ON ADULT MALE HOMICIDES IN THE UNITED-STATES - EVIDENCE FROM THE NATIONAL LONGITUDINAL MORTALITY STUDY

With data from the 1979-1985 Longitudinal Mortality Study, we examine the effects of marital status and social isolation on adult male homic ide (ICD-9 Codes E960-E978). Cox proportional hazards models were fitt ed to a 1979-1981 population cohort of approximately 200,000 adult men and their mortality experiences were followed until 1984-1985. Multiv ariate hazards regression analysis showed that marital status and soci al isolation are associated with significantly higher risks of homicid e victimization. Controlling for age and other socioeconomic covariate s, single persons were 1.9 times, and divorced, separated or widowed p ersons were 1.7 times, more likely to die from homicide than married p ersons. Socially isolated persons were 1.6 times more likely to become homicide victims. Other adult males with increased risk of homicide v ictimization were African Americans and those who lived in the inner c ity.