The Intersection Of Interpersonal And Self-Directed Violence Among General Adult, College Student And Sexually Diverse Samples

Keywords

interpersonal violence; perpetration; physical assault; Self-directed violence; suicide; victimization

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.

Publication Date

2-1-2017

Publication Title

International Journal of Social Psychiatry

Volume

63

Issue

1

Number of Pages

78-85

Document Type

Article; Proceedings Paper

Personal Identifier

scopus

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.1177/0020764016683728

Socpus ID

85011623226 (Scopus)

Source API URL

https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/85011623226

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