Personality Traits and Substance Use Profiles of Male Perpetrators of Intimate and Non-Intimate Femicide in Kamiti Maximum Prison

The killing of females now increasingly known as femicide, tends to be at the extreme end in a continuum of gender-based violence culminating in murder. Women are far more likely to die in the hands of someone they know. Existing research points to the fact that globally, the prevalence of gender-related violence is on the increase. The aim of the study is to compare personality traits, substance use, and sociodemographic profiles of male perpetrators of intimate and non-intimate femicide. This correlational study was conducted in Kamiti Maximum Prison, Kenya. Purposive sampling was used to select a balanced sample (intimate=21, non-intimate=21). Sociodemographic questionnaires, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Drug Use Disorders Identification Test, and Personality Inventory for the DSM-5 Brief form, were used for data collection. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and Independent Samples T Test for comparison of mean using SPSS. Results indicate intimate femicide offenders to be older, majority in both groups were undereducated and married to one wife, indicating high risk of violence in the home. Negative Affectivity trait scored the highest mean among intimate (M=0.990) and non-intimate (M= 1.000) femicide offenders. There was significant difference in Antagonism trait between intimate (M= 0.562, SD=0.408) and non-intimate (M= 0.924, SD= 0.631); t (32.242) = -2.208, p=0.034 femicide offenders. Further empirical research is recommended for mental health assessment and treatment of offenders. Alcohol use is a prevailing feature in both groups, further research in its contribution to interpersonal violence is needed.