Six Year Outcomes of Suicidal Adolescents: The Role of Sexual Abuse.

Abstract

Sexual abuse has far reaching consequences and can place an individual at increased risk for mental health disorders, functional and social impairment, and suicide-related behavior, although the mechanisms by which its effects are sustained are not clear. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between sexual abuse and suicide-related behaviors, psychopathology, social functioning, and quality of life among young adults who were psychiatrically hospitalized for severe suicidal ideation or a suicide attempt approximately 6 years previously. Study participants were 96 young adults (21-24 years) who were originally participants in an NIMH-funded study, the Youth-Nominated Support Team-II, lead by Cheryl King, Ph.D. Follow-up interviews revealed high levels of current depression, suicidal ideation, a high number of suicide attempts, difficulties with social adjustment and quality of life, and high levels of service utilization across the entire sample. Approximately one-third of the sample had a history of sexual abuse (either at baseline or during the 6 year follow-up period). Participants with sexual abuse histories had significantly higher levels of depression (both at baseline and at follow-up), higher levels of baseline functional impairment, and were more likely to have made a first time suicide attempt during the follow-up period, than those without sexual abuse histories. There were, however, a significant number of sexually abused participants who demonstrated resilient outcomes, an important area for further investigation which may improve intervention development.