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. 2022 Feb 9;15(3):715-725.
doi: 10.1007/s40653-022-00439-4. eCollection 2022 Sep.

Pathways to Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents: Examination of Child Maltreatment and Post-Traumatic Symptoms

Elizabeth McRae  1 , Laura Stoppelbein  2 , Sarah O'Kelley  1 , Shana Smith  3 , Paula Fite  4
Affiliations

Pathways to Suicidal Behavior in Children and Adolescents: Examination of Child Maltreatment and Post-Traumatic Symptoms

Elizabeth McRae et al. J Child Adolesc Trauma. .

Abstract

Suicide in youth exacts significant personal and community costs. Thus, it is important to understand predisposing risk factors. Experiencing adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as child maltreatment (CM-ACE), and the presence of post-traumatic stress disorder has been identified as a risk factor of suicidal behaviors among adults. Theoretical models of suicide suggest that the presence of painful experiences such as CM-ACEs increase the risk of suicidal behaviors. The relation between child maltreatment, post-traumatic stress symptom clusters (PTSS) and suicidal behaviors has not been explicitly examined among youth. The present study examined the relations between CM-ACEs, PTSS clusters, and suicidal behaviors in a clinical population of children. Children, male, ages 6 to 14, enrolled in a residential treatment program completed self-report measures to evaluate variables of interest. Path analyses revealed statistically significant direct effects of CM-ACEs and PTSS clusters on suicidal behaviors. Significant total indirect effects and marginally significant individual indirect effects of intrusion and avoidance symptoms were observed for the relation between CM-ACEs and suicidal behavior. Findings suggest that symptoms associated with specific PTSS clusters might help explain the relation between CM-ACEs and suicidal behavior, and therefore, present important implications for clinical practice and future research.

Keywords: Adverse childhood experiences; Child maltreatment; PTSD; Suicide.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest StatementThe authors have no conflict of interest to report.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Path analysis model with standardized path coefficients
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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