Citation

Baytunca MB, Ata E, Ozbaran B, Kaya A, Kose S, Aktas EO, Aydın R, Guney S, Yuncu Z, Erermis S, Bildik T, Aydin C. Pediatr. Int. 2016; 59(1): 10-15.

Affiliation

Ege University, School of Medicine, Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Izmir, Turkey.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Japan Pediatric Society, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/ped.13065

PMID

27288641

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) can be a devastating life experience that produces higher incidences of mental disorders and suicide attempts. However, there are factors that may be found with a greater ratio in the vulnerable victims.

METHOD: We evaluated 181 Turkish children and adolescents with a history of CSA regarding their age, gender, suicide attempts, family relations and educational background. Abuse involving the insertion of an organ or foreign object into the individual's body was designated as a "Qualified Sexual Abuse" (QSA); other forms of sexual abuse were designated "Basic Sexual Abuse" (BSA).

RESULTS: Suicide attempts were significantly higher in adolescent girls in the QSA subgroup; age, gender, family integrity, and school attendance did not associate with the risk of mental disorders in this group. Among BSA patients, family integrity statistically influenced suicide attempts. Suicide attempts were approximately 10 times higher (P = 0.005, 95%CI: 2.020-51.051, OR, 10.154) in the participants of children living in broken families. Family integrity and school attendance were also noted as weak protective factors against mental disorders in BSA patients. The incidence of mental disorders was 3.5 times higher in children who had not been attending school (P = 0.009, 95%CI: 1.379-9.211, OR, 3.564).

CONCLUSION: We found that family integrity and school attendance weakly related with psychopathology (e.g., mental disorders or suicide attempts) for BSA survivors but not for QSA survivors. Female gender and puberty also increased the likelihood of a suicide attempt for QSA survivors. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Language: en