Mental Pain and Suicidal Tendencies in Sexual and Physical Abuse Victims

Abstract

We examine differential effects of mental pain and suicidal tendencies in female victims who have been sexually and physically abused, hypothesizing that sexual abuse victims report more mental pain and suicidal tendencies than physical abuse victims. A group of 98 women completed questionnaires that measured mental pain, suicidal tendencies and thoughts, and demographic details. Sexual abuse victims suffered more mental pain than physical abuse victims while the physical abuse victims demonstrated more repulsion by life than sexual abuse victims. Only sexual abuse victims demonstrated less attraction to life and only physical abuse victims showed more attraction to death.

Keywords:

• mental pain
• physical abuse
• sexual abuse
• suicidal tendencies

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Inbar Kremer

Inbar Kremer, Department of Management, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Israel Orbach

Israel Orbach, Department of Psychology, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.

Tova Rosenbloom

Tova Rosenbloom, Department of Management, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.