Do you think kidnappings are more likely to occur in families with two kids or families with six?

Question

Just curious about your opinions on this.

Update--I just found a research study suggesting bigger families are at higher risk of experiencing kidnappings:

"...This paper addresses these three methodological difficulties, using data drawn from a national sample of families, and including both abducted and nonabducted children. We find that race, age of children, family size, and incidence of violence in the family all appear to bear on the risk of experiencing a family abduction event. Further, recency of divorce or separation appears to be associated with the risk for more serious or alarming cases of family abduction."

Peggy S. Plass1, David Finkelhor2 and Gerald T. Hotaling3

Journal Journal of Family Violence
Volume 12, Number 3 / September, 1997

Answer 1

interesting... id like to see more of the study.

I'd always thought that every child had the same chance of being taken.

Answer 2

Well, since a child is most likely going to be abducted by it's own non-custodial parent- I would say a child in a small family is more likely for many reasons:

It is more common to have a family with 2 children then one with six

If the parents are together long enough to have 6 children, there is less of a likelyhood of them splitting up and having custody issues.

A parent would likely kidnap all of their children, not just one or two so having 6 children would be more difficult for a parent to take.

Answer 3

Since my children always have playmates there to help guide and protect them, even under my watchful eye, I would say that they do not have a very high risk of being taken.

Predators are going to pick out a child that seems to be an easy target. A child playing on a playground with only one other friend is a bigger target than one that has 6 or 7 kids there with them.

Studies that "suggest" can suggest anything they want in reality, its a hypothesis and not a proven fact.

Answer 4

I didn't think size of family mattered. I still don't see how it could, study or no study. that just doesn't make sense.

Answer 5

i have no clue i really think it doesnt matter..