Evidence Supporting an Independent Association between Childhood Physical Abuse and Lifetime Suicidal Ideation

A regionally representative Canadian sample was used to investigate the gender-specific relationship between childhood physical abuse and lifetime suicidal ideation. The prevalence of suicidal ideation was about five times higher in abused men and women compared with their nonabused counterparts. After controlling for five clusters of potentially confounding factors (adverse childhood conditions, socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, psychosocial stressors/chronic illnesses, and mental health), childhood physical abuse was significantly associated with suicidal ideation (OR(adjusted) women = 4.48, 95% CI = 3.32-6.04; men = 3.57, 95% CI = 2.08-6.14). These findings suggest childhood physical abuse is independently associated with suicidal ideation and highlight the importance of providing preventative treatment to childhood abuse survivors.