Suicidality in college women who were sexually and physically abused and physically punished by parents.

In order to ascertain if physically abused, sexually abused, physically punished, and nonabused/nonpunished women students reported different levels of suicidality, 182 women completed measures of suicidality, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and physical punishment. Women who reported sexual abuse were more suicidal than all other groups, and those physically abused were more suicidal than those nonabused/nonpunished. In a multiple regression, sexual abuse accounted for the most variance in suicidality (15%). Apparently women who report sexual or physical abuse, but not ordinary physical punishment alone, are at greater risk for suicide.