Robert J Cramer1, Sarah L Desmarais2, Kiersten L Johnson2, Tess M Gemberling3, Matt R Nobles4, Sarah R Holley5, Susan Wright6, Richard Van Dorn7. 1. 1 School of Community & Environmental Health, Old Dominion University, Norfolk, VA, USA. 2. 2 North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. 3. 3 The University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. 4. 4 University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, USA. 5. 5 San Francisco State University, San Francisco, CA, USA. 6. 6 National Coalition for Sexual Freedom, Baltimore, MD, USA. 7. 7 RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Suicide and interpersonal violence (i.e. victimization and perpetration) represent pressing public health problems, and yet remain mostly addressed as separate topics. AIMS: To identify the (1) frequency and overlap of suicide and interpersonal violence and (2) characteristics differentiating subgroups of violence-related experiences. METHODS: A health survey was completed by 2,175 respondents comprised of three groups: college students ( n = 702), adult members of a sexuality special interest organization ( n = 816) and a community adult sample ( n = 657). Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups characterized by violence experiences; logistic regression was used to identify respondent characteristics differentiating subgroups. RESULTS: Overall rates of violence perpetration were low; perpetration, victimization and self-directed violence all varied by sample. Adults with alternative sexual interests reported high rates of victimization and self-directed violence. Analyses indicated two subgroups: (1) victimization + self-directed violence and (2) self-directed violence only. The victimization + self-directed violence subgroup was characterized by older, White, female and sexual orientation minority persons. The self-directed violence subgroup was characterized by younger, non-White, male and straight counterparts engaging with more sexual partners and more frequent drug use. CONCLUSION: Findings support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of suicide as self-directed violence. Suicide intervention and prevention should further account for the role of violent victimization by focusing on the joint conceptualization of self-directed and interpersonal violence. Additional prevention implications are discussed.
BACKGROUND: Suicide and interpersonal violence (i.e. victimization and perpetration) represent pressing public health problems, and yet remain mostly addressed as separate topics. AIMS: To identify the (1) frequency and overlap of suicide and interpersonal violence and (2) characteristics differentiating subgroups of violence-related experiences. METHODS: A health survey was completed by 2,175 respondents comprised of three groups: college students ( n = 702), adult members of a sexuality special interest organization ( n = 816) and a community adult sample ( n = 657). Latent class analysis was used to identify subgroups characterized by violence experiences; logistic regression was used to identify respondent characteristics differentiating subgroups. RESULTS: Overall rates of violence perpetration were low; perpetration, victimization and self-directed violence all varied by sample. Adults with alternative sexual interests reported high rates of victimization and self-directed violence. Analyses indicated two subgroups: (1) victimization + self-directed violence and (2) self-directed violence only. The victimization + self-directed violence subgroup was characterized by older, White, female and sexual orientation minority persons. The self-directed violence subgroup was characterized by younger, non-White, male and straight counterparts engaging with more sexual partners and more frequent drug use. CONCLUSION: Findings support the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) definition of suicide as self-directed violence. Suicide intervention and prevention should further account for the role of violent victimization by focusing on the joint conceptualization of self-directed and interpersonal violence. Additional prevention implications are discussed.
Authors: Matt R Nobles; Robert J Cramer; Samantha A Zottola; Sarah L Desmarais; Tess M Gemberling; Sarah R Holley; Susan Wright Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2018-07-12 Impact factor: 4.328