NCJ Number
162773
Journal
Journal of Child Sexual Abuse Volume: 4 Issue: 4 Dated: (1995) Pages: 79-93
Date Published
1995
Length
15 pages
Annotation
Data from 165 female college students at the University of Idaho formed the basis of an analysis of the relationship among childhood sexual abuse and parental alcoholism, retrospective reports of family functioning, and having had a history of either suicidal ideation or suicide attempts.
Abstract
Results revealed that the experiences of childhood sexual abuse and parental alcoholism independently predicted higher levels of suicidality. In addition, participants' reports of past family conflict were associated with higher levels of suicidality, whereas reports that families were cohesive, fostered expressiveness and independence, engaged in intellectual-cultural recreational opportunities, and emphasized moral and religious values were associated with decreased risk. Regression models were useful in describing the joint effects of childhood adversity and family environment. Findings suggested that childhood sexual abuse and parental alcoholism increase suicidality and that specific interventions that could be studied for effectiveness include the reduction of family conflict and efforts aimed at increasing the level of family cohesion. Tables and 30 references (Author abstract modified)