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A Model of Sexual Abuse’s Effects on Suicidal Behavior and Delinquency: The Role of Emotions as Mediating Factors

  • Empirical Research
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Abstract

Drawing on Agnew’s general strain theory, we examined whether depressed mood and anger mediated the effects of sexual abuse on suicidal behavior and delinquency. Participants included 9,113 students attending high schools in Iceland. Structural equation modeling showed that, while controlling for family structure and parental education, being exposed to strain in the form of sexual abuse was positively related to both depressed mood and anger. The effects of sexual abuse on suicidal behavior of both boys and girls were twice as strong through depressed mood as through anger. The effects of sexual abuse on outwardly-directed forms of delinquency for both genders were stronger through anger than through depressed mood. These findings highlight the complex nature of the effects of strain on adolescents’ emotions and behavior. Moreover, they show that depression—in contrast to outwardly-directed delinquency, where feelings of anger are predominantly influential—is more relevant than anger to suicidal behavior.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Health and Education, Reykjavik University, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Inga Dora Sigfusdottir, Bryndis Bjork Asgeirsdottir, Gisli H. Gudjonsson & Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson

  2. Icelandic Centre for Social Research and Analysis, ICRA, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Inga Dora Sigfusdottir & Bryndis Bjork Asgeirsdottir

  3. Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, Kings College London, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AF, England

    Gisli H. Gudjonsson

  4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson

  5. Division of Psychiatry, Landspitali-University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland

    Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson

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  1. Inga Dora Sigfusdottir
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  2. Bryndis Bjork Asgeirsdottir
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  3. Gisli H. Gudjonsson
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  4. Jon Fridrik Sigurdsson
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Correspondence to Inga Dora Sigfusdottir.

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Sigfusdottir, I.D., Asgeirsdottir, B.B., Gudjonsson, G.H. et al. A Model of Sexual Abuse’s Effects on Suicidal Behavior and Delinquency: The Role of Emotions as Mediating Factors. J Youth Adolescence 37, 699–712 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-007-9247-6

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