Suicidal Behavior and Sexual/Physical Abuse Among Street Youth

• NCJ Number: 170931
• Journal: Child Abuse and Neglect Volume: 22 Issue: 3 Dated: (March 1998) Pages: 213-222
• Author(s): B E Molnar; S B Shade; A H Kral; R E Booth; J K Watters
• Date Published: 1998
• Length: 10 pages
• Contract Number(s): 271-90-8402
• Sponsoring Agency: National Institute on Drug Abuse
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined the relationship between home-life risk factors, including child sexual/physical abuse, and suicide attempts among homeless and runaway street youth recruited from both shelters and street locations in Denver, Colo.; New York City; and San Francisco, Calif.

Abstract

The study involved 775 youths, ages 12-19. They were interviewed in 1992 and 1993. Cross-sectional, retrospective data were analyzed to examine the relationship between suicide attempts and antecedent home-life variables. After defining sexual abuse for the respondents, they were asked whether or not they had ever been sexually abused. Data were collected on their relationships to the perpetrators and the time frame of the abuse. Participants were also asked whether or not anyone in their family had physically abused them. If they had been abused, they were asked about their relationship to the perpetrators. Respondents were also asked whether they had ever thought about committing suicide, whether they had ever attempted it; and if so, how many times, age at first attempt, when was the last time, the methods used, and whether the suicide attempts had left any lingering health problems. Findings showed that 48 percent of the females, and 27 percent of the males had attempted suicide. The mean number of suicide attempts was 6.2 for females and 5.1 for males. Among females, 70 percent reported sexual abuse, and 35 percent reported physical abuse. Among males, 24 percent reported sexual abuse, and 35 percent reported physical abuse. Sexual and physical abuse before leaving home were independent predictors of suicide attempts for females and males. Other home-life factors hypothesized to be risk factors for suicide attempts were not significant. Interaction terms were not significant. Among street youths who were sexually or physically abused, the odds of attempting suicide were 1.9 to 4.3 times that of those not sexually or physically abused. Interventions that attempt to reduce risky behaviors in this population must include assessments of suicidal behaviors as well as components for assisting youth in dealing with the behavioral and emotional sequelae of physical and sexual abuse. 4 tables and 39 references