Mediators of childhood trauma and suicidality in a cohort of socio-economically deprived Scottish men

Abstract

Background: There is little research investigating the relationship between childhood abuse, including neglect, and suicidality in adult men, despite epidemiological data suggesting that they are most at risk for suicide.

Objective: To investigate the relationship between childhood abuse and neglect and suicidality, and the possible mediating roles of affect dysregulation and social inhibition.

Participants and setting: a cohort of eighty-six socio-economically deprived male Caucasian participants previously identified as suicidal, attending a non-clinical community group.

Methods: Participants completed self-report measures on childhood trauma, emotion regulation, interpersonal difficulties and suicidal behavior.

Results: Mediation analysis indicated that emotion dysregulation and interpersonal difficulties significantly mediated the relationship between childhood trauma and suicidality with a medium effect size (R² = .41, p < .001).

Conclusions: Study results suggest that early childhood abuse and neglect results in dysfunctional emotion regulation, which leads to suicidality in the context of impoverished social environments. The provision of psychological interventions aimed at improving social and emotional functioning may help to safeguard men who are most at risk of suicide.

Keywords: Childhood abuse; Childhood neglect; Interpersonal problems; Male psychology; Risk factors; Suicide.