Sexual victimization and completed suicide among Danish female adults.
Although sexual victimization has been associated with suicidal behaviors, its association with completed suicide has not been examined. We investigated this association among Danish women using longitudinal data and a conservative definition of victimization. This population-based case-control study included 476 suicide cases and 12,010 matched controls. Seven cases (1.5%) and 5 controls (0.04%) experienced sexual victimization that was reported to the police and resulted in a conviction. Sexual victimization was associated with a 14-fold increased rate of suicide, controlling for confounders and matching (95% CI: [3.4, 59]). Completed suicide is an important potential outcome of sexual victimization, warranting further examination.
VA Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA. jaime.gradus@va.gov
Jaimie L
JL
Gradus
Ping
P
Qin
Alisa K
AK
Lincoln
Matthew
M
Miller
Elizabeth
E
Lawler
Henrik Toft
HT
Sørensen
Timothy L
TL
Lash
D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015986:Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003416:Criminal Law; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D013405:Suicide / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*