Exploring the Link between Child Abuse, Domestic Violence, and Suicidality among Secondary School Students

Abstract

Aims: Suicide among adolescents is a rising public health concern, particularly in Nigeria, where cultural stigma and under-reporting make the true burden difficult to estimate. This study examined the association between child abuse, domestic violence and suicidality among secondary school students in Osun State, Southwestern Nigeria, and explored the contribution of selected sociodemographic variables to suicidal ideation in this population. Study Design: Using a cross-sectional research design, the study investigated how experiences of child abuse and domestic violence are related to levels of suicidality in a school-based sample of adolescents. Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted in selected public and private secondary schools in Osun State, Nigeria, and coordinated by the Department of Psychology, Redeemer’s University, between August 2024 and February 2025. Methodology: Data was collected from 300 students, [male 143(47.7%) and females 157(52.3%)], Data were collected from 300 students [143 males (47.7%) and 157 females (52.3%)] whose ages ranged between 10 and 20 years (Mean age = 14.1 ± 1.5 years). A multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select four secondary schools, from which participants were drawn using proportionate sampling. Self-administered questionnaires were used to obtain information on suicidality, child abuse and domestic violence, including the Suicidal Ideation Scale and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. Results: A substantial proportion of students reported clinically concerning levels of suicidality, with nearly half falling in the moderate-to-high risk categories. Child abuse and domestic violence were both positively associated with suicidality, and together they significantly predicted suicidal ideation in the regression model, explaining a large proportion of the variance (R² ≈ 0.68). Child abuse showed a stronger association with suicidality (β ≈ 0.59, p < .01) than domestic violence (β ≈ 0.30, p < .01). In contrast, most sociodemographic variables made only modest additional contributions, and the correlation between age and suicidal ideation was not significant. Conclusion: The findings indicate that experiences of child abuse and domestic violence are strongly associated with higher levels of suicidality among secondary school students in Osun State. These results underscore the urgent need for school- and community-based interventions that prevent child maltreatment and domestic violence, improve early identification of at-risk adolescents, and enhance access to age-appropriate mental health support and counselling services in order to protect young people and promote their psychological well-being.