title: Early childhood abuse and late-life suicidal ideation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In younger populations childhood sexual and physical abuse have been found to be associated with suicidal ideation. Such associations have not been examined among older adults.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from the National Comorbidity Study-Replication (NCS-R).
  
  
  METHODS
  Older adults (60+, N = 1610) from the NCS-R sample.
  
  
  METHODS
  Suicidal ideation occurring after the age of 60 was assessed. Early-life factors were assessed including childhood physical and sexual abuse and parent's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants' internalizing and externalizing symptoms were also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender, mother's internalizing symptoms and childhood physical and sexual abuse were associated with suicidal ideation. The association between child abuse and suicidal ideation was mediated by participants' externalizing symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Health care workers should screen for suicidal ideation among older adults. In particular, older males with externalizing disorders and a history of child abuse may be at a heightened risk for suicidal ideation.
authors: Department of Psychology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA. sachs@psy.fsu.edu
authors: Natalie
authors: N
authors: Sachs-Ericsson
authors: Elizabeth
authors: E
authors: Corsentino
authors: Nicole Collins
authors: NC
authors: Rushing
authors: Julia
authors: J
authors: Sheffler
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology