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01-11-2008 | Original Article

Childhood Adversities and Suicide Attempts: A Retrospective Study

Authors: J. Hardt, A. Sidor, R. Nickel, B. Kappis, P. Petrak, U. T. Egle

Published in: Journal of Family Violence | Issue 8/2008

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the association among various childhood adversities and suicide attempts. A total of 575 patients of a psychosomatic clinic and general practitioners were examined by use of a structured interview. Seventeen percent of the sample reported a suicide attempt in the past. In particular, two forms of early violence (i.e., sexual abuse and harsh physical punishment) were associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts. In addition, financial hardship was associated with an increased risk for suicide attempts. Parental separation or divorce, and physical arguments between parents, increased the risk only in a bivariate analysis; after controlling for other adversities, no association with suicide attempts remained. Suicide attempts can be considered as an act of violence against oneself; they are associated with early experiences of sexual and physical violence.

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Title: Childhood Adversities and Suicide Attempts: A Retrospective Study
Authors: J. Hardt
A. Sidor
R. Nickel
B. Kappis
P. Petrak
U. T. Egle
Publication date: 01-11-2008
Publisher: Springer US
Published in: Journal of Family Violence / Issue 8/2008
Print ISSN: 0885-7482
Electronic ISSN: 1573-2851
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-008-9196-1

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Childhood Adversities and Suicide Attempts: A Retrospective Study

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