Exposure to Complex Trauma and Suicidality Among Children

• In Event: The impact of stress and coping on development: Measurement and mechanisms

Abstract

Although childhood trauma exposure is a recognized risk factor for suicidality, exposure to complex trauma, defined as chronic or multiple interpersonal traumas that begin early in life, has largely not been investigated in relation to suicidality. Despite the unique difficulties associated with complex trauma, the relationship between aspects of complex trauma and suicidality is unclear. The present study examined whether complex trauma and aspects of the complex trauma definition (i.e., chronic/multiple, interpersonal, age of onset) were related to caregiver- and child-reported suicidality among 267 treatment-seeking children aged 6-18 years (M = 11.04, SD = 3.35; 65.2% female; 64% Black). As posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) are also likely relevant in understanding children’s suicidality after complex trauma exposure, we also investigated whether complex trauma would remain related to suicidality after accounting for PTSS. Complex trauma exposure was related to higher levels of children’s caregiver-reported suicidality as expected. However, while child’s gender was tied to child-reported suicidality, child survivors of complex trauma did not endorse higher levels of suicidality. When the specific components of the complex trauma definition were examined, only chronicity was specifically tied to caregiver-reported suicidality. None of the aspects of complex trauma were tied to children’s suicidality. When PTSS was included, complex trauma exposure was no longer tied to caregiver-reported suicidality. PTSS was also associated with higher levels of children’s suicidality. Findings indicate the importance of considering PTSS along with characteristics of the trauma when predicting risk for suicide among trauma-exposed children.

Authors

• Rachel Wamser-Nanney, University of Missouri St. Louis
  Non-Presenting Author

• Claudia L Campbell, University of Missouri-St. Louis
  Presenting Author