Suicidality in College Women Who Were Sexually and Physically Abused and Physically Punished by Parents

• NCJ Number: 173241
• Journal: Violence and Victims Volume: 10 Issue: 3 Dated: Fall 1995 Pages: 195-201
• Author(s): S L Bryant; L M Range
• Date Published: 1995
• Length: 7 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examines the link between suicidality and child sexual abuse.

Abstract

In order to ascertain if physically abused, sexually abused, physically punished, and nonabused/nonpunished women students reported different levels of suicidality, 182 women completed measures of suicidality, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical punishment. The term "suicidality" includes past and present suicidal ideas, past attempts, and completions. Women who reported sexual abuse were more suicidal than all other groups, and those physically abused were more suicidal than those nonabused/nonpunished. In a multiple regression, sexual abuse accounted for the most variance in suicidality (15 percent). Apparently women who report sexual or physical abuse, but not ordinary physical punishment alone, are at greatest risk for suicide. These data are limited by their self-report nature; by being based on memories of events, some of which occurred many years ago; by including voluntary participation rather than random selection of subjects; and, because of the sensitive nature of the subject matter, participants may have been hesitant to answer certain questions. Tables, note, references