NCJ Number
248069
Journal
Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 38 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2014 Pages: 1191-1196
Date Published
July 2014
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study explored the relationship between childhood trauma and suicide risk in a sample of young persons, age 14-35, from Pelotas, Brazil.
Abstract
This study on the relationship between childhood trauma and suicide risk in adolescents and young adults found that in the given sample, the overall risk of suicide was 11.5 percent, and that the prevalence of lifetime suicide risk was higher for women, 9.4 percent, compared to men, 4.2 percent. In addition, the study found that different types of childhood trauma resulted in different levels of suicide risk with emotional neglect having the highest level, 15.2 percent, followed by emotional abuse (13.8 percent), physical neglect (13.5 percent), physical abuse (10.1 percent), and sexual abuse (7.6 percent). The study also found that the risk of suicide was higher for those who presented with a history of alcohol abuse, tobacco use, and those currently unemployed. This study examined the relationship between childhood trauma and suicide risk in a sample of young persons, age 14-35 years, from the southern city of Pelotas, Brazil. Data for the study were obtained from 1,308 individuals who completed the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, as well as a questionnaire concerning socioeconomic status, work, and substance use. The data was evaluated to determine the extent to which the existence of childhood trauma increased the risk of suicide among study participants. The findings from the study suggest that childhood trauma is associated with suicide risk in older adolescents and young adults, and that programs that prevent early trauma may reduce the risk of suicide for this population group. Study limitations are discussed. Table and references