Association between violence and mental distress, self-harm and suicidal ideation and attempts among young people in Malawi

Abstract

BackgroundMental health problems ranging from depression to more severe acts such as self-harm or suicidal behaviours are a serious problem among adolescents and young adults. Exposure to violence during the life of young people can increase mental health issues for youth. This study examines the relationship between exposure to violence and mental health issues among youth using a nationally representative study in Malawi.MethodsWe analysed data from the nationally representative Violence Against Children Survey from Malawi (2013) to quantify the association between exposures to violence (physical, sexual and emotional) and their relationship with mental distress, self-harm behaviours and suicidal ideation and attempts among youth aged 13–24 years. We evaluated the association of exposures to violence against children with reported mental health conditions among women and men. We used ordinal logistic regression models with appropriate survey weights to assess exposures to violence and the three outcomes of interest.ResultsChildren and youth aged 13–24 years exposed to violence in childhood reported higher levels of adverse mental health effects, including mental distress, self-harm behaviours and suicidal ideation and attempts. The odds of reporting these outcomes increased as the number of violence types increased.ConclusionsUnderstanding the risks based on different combinations of exposures to violence in Malawi can help identify populations at higher risk and optimise violence prevention strategies.

Polyvictimization and Adolescent Health and Well-Being in Ethiopia: The Mediating Role of Resilience

“…However, the literature on the mental health and behavioral health impacts of polyvictimization on adolescents is more extensive compared with the literature on physical health or sexual and reproductive health outcomes [ 47 ]. While there are fewer studies examining the effects of polyvictimization on adolescents in LMICs compared with HICs, the evidence base is growing, and demonstrates that polyvictimization is associated with adverse mental health outcomes including suicide ideation, post-traumatic stress, depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem [ 10 , 48 ]; increased health risk behaviors such as initiating violence and alcohol use [ 10 , 49 ]; reduced health-related quality of life [ 50 ]; and developmental problems including compromised cognitive, intellectual, behavioral, and emotional functioning [ 46 ]. Further, particularly egregious forms of victimization, such as sexual victimization and child maltreatment, have a greater impact on trauma symptoms [ 15 ], suggesting that some types of polyvictimization may be more severe than others.…”