Abstract
Very few studies have attempted to define the underlying link between a history of sexual abuse and subsequent deliberate self-harm (DSH). Correlations and logistic regression modelling were used to examine the relationship between the frequency of DSH, the severity of sexual, physical, and psychological abuse, and various outcome measures in a sample of 257 females consecutively admitted to a general hospital in England after taking an overdose. The severity of all three types of abuse related strongly to the frequency of DSH, but not to measures of past or current psychopathology. Both abuse and psychopathology made independent contributions to self-poisoning, but only abuse contributed to other deliberate self-injury. These findings provide further evidence that abuse may be etiologically related to DSH. If confirmed, some patients may require treatment of the underlying abuse or its consequences in order to reduce the risk of further DSH.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Anderson, L.S. (1981). Notes on the linkage between the sexually abused child and the suicidal adolescent. Journal of Adolescence, 4, 157-162.
Beck, A.T., Weissman, A., Lester, D., & Trexler, L. (1974). The measurement of pessimism: The Hopelessness Scale. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 42, 861-865.
Briere, J. (1988a). The long-term clinical correlates of childhood sexual victimization. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 528, 327-334.
Briere, J. (1988b). Controlling for family variables in abuse effects research - a critique of the “partialling” procedure. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 3, 80-89.
Briere, J., & Runtz, M. (1986). Suicidal thoughts and behaviours in former sexual abuse victims. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science/Review of Canadian Scientific Compositions, 18, 413-423.
Briere, J., & Runtz, M. (1988). Multivariate correlates of childhood psychological and physical maltreatment among university women. Child Abuse and Neglect, 12, 331-341.
Coll, X., Law, F., Tobias, A., & Hawton, K. (1998). Child sexual abuse in women who take overdoses: I. A study of prevalence and severity. Archives of Suicide Research (this issue).
de Young, M. (1982). Self-injurious behaviour in incest victims: A research note. Child Welfare, 61, 577-584.
Draijer, N. (1985). De omvang van seksueel: Misbruik van kinderen in het gezin. Maandblad Geestelijke Volksgezandheid, 40, 587-608.
Dyer, J.A.T., & Krietman, N. (1984). Hopelessness, depression and suicidal intent in parasuicide. British Journal of Psychiatry, 144, 127-133.
Edmunds, G., & Kendrick, D.C. (1980). The measurement of human aggressiveness. Chichester: Ellis Horwood Ltd.
Finkelhor, D., & Browne, A. (1985). The traumatic impact of child sexual abuse: A conceptualisation. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 55, 530-541.
Goldberg, G., & Williams, D. (1988). A user's guide to the general health questionnaire. Windsor: NFER-Nelson.
Hawton, K. (1996). Deliberate self-harm. Medicine, 24(3), 77-80.
Herman, J. (1981). Father daughter incest. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Lorr, M., & McNair, D.M. (1984). Profile of mood states: Bipolar form (POMS-BI). San Diego, California: Educational and Industry Testing Service.
Martin, G. (1996). Reported family dynamics, sexual abuse, and suicidal behaviors in community adolescents. Archives of Suicide Research, 2, 183-195.
Mullen, P., Martin, J.L., Anderson, J.C., Romans, S.E., & Herbison, G.P. (1993). Childhood sexual abuse and mental health in adult life. British Journal of Psychiatry, 163, 721-732.
Oppenheimer, R., Howells, K., & Palmer, R.L. (1985). Adverse sexual experiences in childhood and clinical eating disorders: a preliminary description. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 9, 357-361.
Parker, G., Tupling, H., & Brown, L.B. (1979). A parental bonding instrument. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 52, 1-10.
Romans, S.E., Martin, J.L., Anderson, J.C., & Herbison, G.P. (1995). Sexual abuse in childhood and deliberate self-harm. American Journal of Psychiatry, 152, 1336-1342.
Spielberger, C.D. (1991). State trait anger expression inventory, revised research edition, professional manual. Odessa, Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources Inc.
Zanarini, M.C., Gunderson, J.G., Marino, M.F., & Schwartz, E.O. (1989). Childhood experiences of borderline patients. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 30, 18-25.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Law, F., Coll, X., Tobais, A. et al. Child sexual abuse in women who take overdoses: II. Risk factors and associations. Archives of Suicide Research 4, 307–327 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009684904743
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009684904743