Early childhood abuse and late-life suicidal ideation

Objectives: In younger populations childhood sexual and physical abuse have been found to be associated with suicidal ideation. Such associations have not been examined among older adults.

Setting: Data from the National Comorbidity Study-Replication (NCS-R).

Participants: Older adults (60+, N?=?1610) from the NCS-R sample.

Measurements: Suicidal ideation occurring after the age of 60 was assessed. Early-life factors were assessed including childhood physical and sexual abuse and parent's internalizing and externalizing symptoms. Participants’ internalizing and externalizing symptoms were also assessed.

Results: Logistic regression analysis showed that male gender, mother's internalizing symptoms and childhood physical and sexual abuse were associated with suicidal ideation. The association between child abuse and suicidal ideation was mediated by participants’ externalizing symptoms.

Conclusions: Health care workers should screen for suicidal ideation among older adults. In particular, older males with externalizing disorders and a history of child abuse may be at a heightened risk for suicidal ideation.