Sexual abuse and suicidal behavior: a model constructed from a large community sample of adolescents.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate relationships between self-reported sexual abuse, depression, hopelessness, and suicidality in a community sample of adolescents.


METHODS
In 1995, students (mean age 13 years) from 27 high schools in Australia (n = 2,603) completed a questionnaire including measures of depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), hopelessness, sexual abuse, and suicidality. Data analysis included logistic regression.


RESULTS
Sexual abuse is associated with suicidality, both directly and indirectly through hopelessness and depressive symptoms in the model developed. High suicide risk (behavior exceeding thoughts such as plans and threats, or deliberate self-injury) is strongly correlated with suicide attempts (odds ratio 28.8, 95% CI 16-52, p <.001). Hopelessness is associated with high suicide risk only, whereas depressive symptoms are associated with high suicide risk and attempts. Hopelessness is more strongly associated with sexual abuse in boys than girls. Depressive symptoms are more strongly associated with high suicide risk in girls than boys. Controlling for other variables, sexual abuse is independently associated with suicide attempts in girls but not boys.


CONCLUSIONS
Clinical assessment should consider gender differences in relationships between sexual abuse, depressive symptoms, hopelessness, and suicidality. Sexually abused girls may be at increased risk of attempting suicide, independent of other psychopathology.
Bergen
Helen A
HA
Department of Psychiatry, University of Queensland Mental Health Center, Royal Brisbane Hospital, Herston, Queensland 4029, Australia.
Martin
Graham
G
Richardson
Angela S
AS
Allison
Stephen
S
Roeger
Leigh
L
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012737:Sex Factors; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires