Sexual violence victimization and suicide: Testing a coping‐mental health framework

Abstract

Sexual violence victimization is a prevalent public health concern. However, little research has investigated the factors linking sexual violence victimization to suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs). The current study tested the applicability of the psychological mediation framework, a coping‐mental health model, for the prevention of STBs among victims of sexual youviolence. Furthermore, the current study explored whether sexual orientation moderated the progression from sexual violence victimization to STBs. Data were drawn from an online survey of victimization experiences and health (N = 2175). Bootstrap mediation tested whether the association of sexual violence victimization and STBs was mediated by emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression) and psychopathology (anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder). Multiple‐groups analysis tested whether links within the mediation effects varied by sexual orientation. Bivariate findings showed that: (1) sexual minority persons were more likely to report sexual violence victimization and (2) cognitive reappraisal was more meaningfully associated with mental health among sexual minority persons. Sexual violence victimization was associated with STBs via a serial mediation through emotion regulation and psychopathology. The association between psychopathology and STBs was stronger among sexual minority compared with heterosexual respondents. Physical violence victimization was associated with STBs for heterosexual but not sexual minority persons in a follow‐up model. Findings support an emotion regulation‐mental health framework for the prevention of suicide among victims of sexual violence. Research and training implications are discussed.

Internalized Homonegativity, Emotion Dysregulation, and Isolating Behaviors Perpetration among Gay and Lesbian Couples

“…Furthermore, a direct and positive association between emotion dysregulation and controlling behaviors of isolation was found in accordance with H3, and the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in the relation between internalized homonegativity and isolating controlling behaviors was confirmed as well (H4). These findings confirm previous literature that found emotion dysregulation to be associated with IPV [ 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 ], supporting this relation in regard to isolating behaviors as well. In addition, our data support the application of the PMF [ 32 ] to SSIPV perpetration.…”

Sexual violence, mental health, and suicidality—Results from a survey in cooperation with idea‐driven organizations and their social media platform followers

“…The results, with more than a threefold proportion exposed to penetrative sexual violence who had or had been diagnosed with depression, anxiety or fatigue syndrome compared with not exposed, are in line with previous Swedish and international studies 7–9,14 . The fact that the proportion with suicide attempts is so high among participants exposed to sexual violence compared to unexposed is in line with both international studies and experience from WONSA's specialist clinic, where 38% of patients had made at least one suicide attempt, and 25% had made two or more suicide attempts 10,15 . This is also in line with results from a study on young people in the Stockholm Region, where a 26‐fold increased risk of seeking medical care due to suicide attempts was seen after a sexual assault had been registered in the medical record, compared with girls of the same age in the same residential area without such registration in the journal 9 .…”

“…[7][8][9]14 The fact that the proportion with suicide attempts is so high among participants exposed to sexual violence compared to unexposed is in line with both international studies and experience from WONSA's specialist clinic, where 38% of patients had made at least one suicide attempt, and 25% had made two or more suicide attempts. 10,15 This is also in line with results from a study on young people in the Stockholm Region, where a 26-fold increased risk of seeking medical care due to suicide attempts was seen after a sexual assault had been registered in the medical record, compared with girls of the same age in the same residential area without such registration in the journal. 9 The similarity regarding suicidality between the findings from consecutive patients at the WONSA clinic, the register-based study and in the present online survey study suggest, that the survey had fairly good validity.…”

The role of cognitive flexibility in self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: A systematic review.

“…Nonetheless, tendencies to use cognitive reappraisal to regulate emotions appear to buffer the effects of stress on SI and NSSI, which may be particularly important for groups who experience elevated rates of stressful life events. Indeed, one study found that the negative association between cognitive reappraisal and SITB was stronger for sexual minorities compared to heterosexual participants (Kaniuka et al, 2021). Therefore, cognitive reappraisal may be particularly helpful for certain marginalized populations.…”