Sociodemographic and psychological characteristics of school shooters in the United States: a systematic review of the literature.

ABSTRACT:

Background

School shootings represent a complex and critical phenomenon observed worldwide, though their frequency is particularly high in the United States compared to other developed countries. A systematic examination of the socio-demographic and psychological characteristics of school shooters is essential for identifying potential recurring patterns and advancing scholarly understanding of the phenomenon. Nonetheless, the current body of evidence remains fragmented and inconsistent.

Methods

A systematic literature search was conducted across PubMed, PsycINFO, and Web of Science databases covering publications from 1900 to 2024. From an initial pool of 1,862 publications, 13 studies meeting inclusion criteria were selected for analysis. The review specifically focused on

SUBMITTER: Minelli M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12833454 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature