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Evidence Supporting an Independent Association between Childhood Physical Abuse and Lifetime Suicidal Ideation
Author(s) -
FullerThomson Esme,
Baker Tobi M.,
Brennenstuhl Sarah
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.00089.x
Subject(s) - suicidal ideation , psychosocial , physical abuse , psychiatry , clinical psychology , medicine , child abuse , childhood abuse , confounding , sexual abuse , poison control , suicide prevention , mental health , socioeconomic status , psychology , environmental health , population , pathology
A regionally representative Canadian sample was used to investigate the gender‐specific relationship between childhood physical abuse and lifetime suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was about five times higher in abused men and women compared with their nonabused counterparts. After controlling for five clusters of potentially confounding factors (adverse childhood conditions, socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, psychosocial stressors/chronic illnesses, and mental health), childhood physical abuse was significantly associated with suicidal ideation (OR adjusted women = 4.48, 95% CI = 3.32–6.04; men = 3.57, 95% CI = 2.08–6.14). These findings suggest childhood physical abuse is independently associated with suicidal ideation and highlight the importance of providing preventative treatment to childhood abuse survivors.