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Are there sensitive periods when child maltreatment substantially elevates suicide risk? Results from a nationally representative sample of adolescents
Author(s) -
Gomez Stephanie H.,
Tse Jenny,
Wang Yan,
Turner Brianna,
Millner Alexander J.,
Nock Matthew K.,
Dunn Erin C.
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
depression and anxiety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.634
H-Index - 129
eISSN - 1520-6394
pISSN - 1091-4269
DOI - 10.1002/da.22650
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , sexual abuse , poison control , suicide prevention , population , injury prevention , psychiatry , national comorbidity survey , child abuse , clinical psychology , psychology , physical abuse , odds ratio , medicine , suicide attempt , comorbidity , medical emergency , environmental health , pathology
Background Although child maltreatment is a well documented risk factor for suicidal behavior, little is known about whether the timing of child maltreatment differentially associates with risk of suicidal ideation, suicide plans, or suicide attempts. The goal of this study was to examine whether a first exposure to physical or sexual abuse during specific developmental periods significantly elevated risk for suicidal behavior in adolescents. Methods Data came from the National Comorbidity Survey Adolescent Supplement, a population‐based sample of US adolescents aged 13–18 years old ( n = 9,272). Using discrete time survival analysis, we assessed the association between timing of first abuse (early childhood: ages 0–5; middle childhood: ages 6–10; adolescence: ages 11–18) and suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts. Results Exposure to either physical or sexual abuse increased the odds of reporting suicidal ideation (odds ratio [OR] = 5.06 and OR = 3.56, respectively), plans (OR = 3.63 and OR = 3.58, respectively), and attempts (OR = 5.80 and OR = 4.21, respectively), even after controlling for sociodemographic covariates and psychiatric disorders. However, the timing of physical and sexual abuse exposure was unassociated with suicidal behavior (all p values >.05). Conclusions Exposure to child maltreatment is strongly associated with risk for adolescent suicidal behaviors, though this association did not vary based on the developmental timing of first exposure. These findings suggest that prevention efforts should be implemented throughout early development and target all children, regardless of when they were first exposed.