title: Latent classes of childhood poly-victimization and associations with suicidal behavior among adult trauma victims: Moderating role of anger.
abstract: The aims of the present study were first to identify discrete patterns of childhood victimization experiences including crime, child maltreatment, peer/sibling victimization, sexual violence, and witnessing violence among adult trauma victims using latent class analysis; second, to examine the association between class-membership and suicidal behavior, and third to investigate the differential role of dispositional anger on the association between class-membership and suicidal behavior. We hypothesized that those classes with accumulating exposure to different types of childhood victimization (e.g., poly-victimization) would endorse higher suicidal behavior, than the other less severe classes, and those in the most severe class with higher anger trait would have stronger association with suicidal behavior. Respondents were 346 adults (N=346; Mage=35.0years; 55.9% female) who had experienced a lifetime traumatic event. Sixty four percent had experienced poly-victimization (four or more victimization experiences) and 38.8% met the cut-off score for suicidal behavior. Three distinct classes emerged namely, the Least victimization (Class 1), the Predominantly crime and sibling/peer victimization (Class 2), and the Poly-victimization (Class 3) classes. Regression analysis controlling for age and gender indicated that only the main effect of anger was significantly associated with suicidal behavior. The interaction term suggested that those in the Poly-victimization class were higher on suicidal behavior as a result of a stronger association between anger and suicidal behavior in contrast to the association found in Class 2. Clinical implications of findings entail imparting anger management skills to facilitate wellbeing among adult with childhood poly-victimization experiences.
authors: Department of Psychological Science, The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, TX, United States. Electronic address: ruby.charak@utrgv.edu.
authors: Ruby
authors: R
authors: Charak
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, OH, United States.
authors: Brianna M
authors: BM
authors: Byllesby
authors: Department of Psychiatry, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, OH, United States.
authors: Michelle E
authors: ME
authors: Roley
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, OH, United States.
authors: Meredith A
authors: MA
authors: Claycomb
authors: Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, OH, United States.
authors: Tory A
authors: TA
authors: Durham
authors: Psychology Research Institute, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors: Jana
authors: J
authors: Ross
authors: Psychology Research Institute, Ulster University, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom.
authors: Cherie
authors: C
authors: Armour
authors: Department of Psychology and Department of Psychiatry, University of Toledo, OH, United States.
authors: Jon D
authors: JD
authors: Elhai
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D054523:Adult Survivors of Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D000786:Anger; D058445:Bullying; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology*; D003415:Crime / Q000523:psychology; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012742:Sex Offenses / Q000523:psychology*; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000523:psychology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Adult trauma victims; Anger; Childhood victimization; Latent class analysis; Poly-victimization; Suicidal behavior