Predictors of suicide attempt among subjects who were previously exposed to sexual abuse.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Child sexual abuse is a condition that can affect the victim's life in every period and is closely related to physical and mental problems. One of the important consequences of child sexual abuse is suicide. The idea that there is a close relationship between child sexual abuse and suicidal ideation and attempts is widely accepted in the literature, but this relationship is quite complex. In this study, we investigated the factors associated with suicide risk in children and adolescents who were victims of sexual abuse.

METHODS

Two groups were formed: participants who were sexually abused and attempted suicide, and participants who were sexually abused and did not attempt suicide. They were evaluated in terms of anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, borderline personality traits, impulsivity, traumatic experiences, and perceived social support using scales.

RESULTS

The total scores of anxiety-depression, posttraumatic-stress-disorder, impulsivity, traumatic experiences, and borderline personality traits scales were found to be significantly higher, while the perceived social support scale score was found to be significantly lower in the group who attempted suicide.

CONCLUSION

Our findings revealed factors associated with suicide attempts in child and adolescent who were sexual abuse victims. Taking these factors into account when evaluating victims of sexual abuse will provide early intervention to high risk patients.