NCJ Number
202606
Journal
Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Volume: 42 Issue: 11 Dated: November 2003 Pages: 1301-1309
Editor(s)
Mina K. Dulcan M.D.
Date Published
November 2003
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Utilizing a large community study of risk factors associated with suicidality in young adolescents, this study examined cross-sectional relationships between childhood and adolescent sexual abuse, suicidal behavior, and suicide attempts.
Abstract
This study presented findings from a cross-sectional, self-report study of a community sample of young adolescents to investigate relationships between self-reported sexual abuse, depression, hopelessness, and suicidality. It was expected that relationships would be mediated by depression and hopelessness, and would possibly be gender-specific. The study consisted of students from 17 public and 10 private rural and suburban high schools in lower to upper middle socio-economic areas of South Australia. Findings indicate that childhood and adolescent sexual abuse (CSA) is related to suicide attempts through pathways encompassing hopelessness and depressive symptoms, indicators of suicide risk such as ideation, plans, threats, and deliberate self-injury DSI, as well as directly or through other variables not considered in the model. CSA should be considered a risk factor for suicidal behavior even in the apparent absence of other psychopathology, although depressive symptoms may further increase its likelihood. Study limitations are presented and discussed. References