Traumatic Events as Risk Factors for PTSD and Suicidal Ideation: A Nine-Year Study of Justice-Involved Adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACT Traumatic events are a serious public health concern, linked cross-sectionally and longitudinally with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and suicidal ideation (SI). While much research has focused on broadly defined traumatic events as they relate to PTSD and SI, fewer projects have investigated the disparate associations that specific traumatic events have with PTSD and SI. In this study of 1,829 adolescents held at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center (measured during adolescence and again nine years later during adulthood), the cross-sectional and prospective links between various traumatic events (i.e. being physically assaulted, threatened with a weapon, sexually assaulted, in a serious accident, seeing someone be killed, experiencing a natural disaster, seeing a dead body, or being forced to fight), PTSD symptoms, and SI were investigated. Findings indicate that every traumatic event endorsed at baseline was cross-sectionally associated with increased PTSD symptoms and SI. Experiencing sexual assault or a serious accident during adolescence predicted greater SI at follow-up. Moreover, the positive association between PTSD symptoms at baseline and SI at follow-up was stronger among individuals who experienced sexual assault or a serious accident versus those who were not trauma exposed. Implications for justice-involved adolescents are discussed.