Childhood abuse may cause suicidal thoughts in adulthood

Toronto, April 25 (IANS) Children who suffer physical abuse are likely to harbour suidical thoughts as adults, a new study from the University of Toronto has said.

According to the report, nearly one-third of such adults were found to be seriously contemplating suicide. This was five times more than those adults who were not physically abused in childhood.

"This research provides important new knowledge about the enduring effects of abuse in childhood," says Esme Fuller, professor of family and community medicine at the University of Toronto, who led the study, the journal Suicide and Life-Threatening Behaviour reports.

Investigators examined gender specific differences among a sample of 6,642 adults, of whom 7.7 percent reported that they had been physically abused before the age of 18.

Co-author Tobi Baker, former graduate student of Toronto, notes that "one important avenue for future research is to investigate the bio-psycho-social mechanisms through which childhood physical abuse may translate into suicidal behaviours."