Citation

Rhodes AE, Boyle MH, Tonmyr L, Wekerle C, Goodman D, Leslie B, Mironova P, Bethell J, Manion I. Suicide Life Threat. Behav. 2011; 41(3): 235-254.

Affiliation

Anne E. Rhodes, The Suicide Studies Research Unit and the Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Department of Psychiatry and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, The Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Michael H. Boyle, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences and Offord Center for Child Studies, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario; Lil Tonmyr, Injury and Child Maltreatment Section, Health Surveillance and Epidemiology Division, Public Health Agency of Canada; Christine Wekerle, Department of Pediatrics, McMaster University; Deborah Goodman, The Children's Aid Society of Toronto and Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto; Bruce Leslie, Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and The Catholic Children's Aid Society of Toronto; Polina Mironova, The Suicide Studies Research Unit and the Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital; Jennifer Bethell, The Suicide Studies Research Unit and the Keenan Research Centre at the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute of St. Michael's Hospital and Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Ian Manion, The Ontario Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, American Association of Suicidology, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1943-278X.2011.00025.x

PMID

21477094

Abstract

Child sexual abuse and suicide-related behaviors are associated, but it remains unclear if the strength of this association differs in boys and girls. In a systematic review of this association in children and youth, we identified 16 relevant studies, all cross-sectional surveys of students. The association is stronger in boys specific to suicide attempt(s). Adjustments for potential confounding variables explained some, but not all of this sex difference. While additional research would strengthen causal inferences, this sex difference may be influenced by the nature and timing of child sexual abuse as well as the sex of the perpetrator, which in turn shapes the disclosure of these events.

Language: en