Is childhood maltreatment associated with murderous ideation and behaviors in adolescents in China?

• Published in: Psychiatry research 2018-12, Vol.270, p.467-473
• Main Authors: Su, Pu-Yu, Han, A-Zhu, Wang, Geng-Fu, Wang, Lu-Han, Zhang, Guo-Bao, Xu, Nuo, Xu, Geng
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescents; Childhood maltreatment; Murder; Murder preoccupation; Murderous attempt
• ISSN: 0165-1781; 1872-7123
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2018.10.024

•There has been little research on the association between childhood maltreatment and murderous ideation and behaviors in general adolescents population.•Murderous ideation and behaviors as a series of psychological possess, including ideation, plans, preparation and attempts were examined.•Each type of childhood maltreatment was significantly increasing the risks of murderous ideation and behaviors among adolescents and a dose-response relationship between them. Previous research has revealed associations between childhood maltreatment (CM) and adverse health behaviors. However, little is known about the relationship between CM and adolescent murderous ideation and behaviors. A total of 5726 middle and high school students completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form and the Murderous Ideation and Behaviors Questionnaire. The findings revealed that the prevalence rates for murderous ideation, plans, preparation, and attempts were 9.9%, 2.8%, 1.3%, and 0.6%, respectively. The results of multinomial logistic regression models indicated that adolescents who experienced CM were more likely to exhibit murderous ideation and behaviors, with adjusted odds ratios (AORs) ranging from 2.55 to 22.31. Additionally, a significant dose-response relationship was found between the number of CM types experienced and murderous ideation and behaviors (AORs ranging from 1.52 to 2.45). The odds of participants who had experienced three or five types of CM were significantly associated with murderous ideation and behaviors, with AORs ranging from 4.55 to 28.30 and from 5.26 to 85.45, respectively. The findings highlighted that adolescents who engaged in murderous ideation and behaviors were more likely to have a personal history of CM and revealed a dose-response relationship between the number of CM types and murderous ideation and behaviors.