Childhood Maltreatment, Self-Compassion, and Suicidal Ideation among Young Adults in Bangladesh

Childhood maltreatment is associated with an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviors in young adults. In contrast, self-compassion is linked to better mental health and healthier lifestyle choices, which may reduce loneliness and lower suicide risk. This study aimed to explore the relationship among childhood maltreatment, self-compassion, and suicidal ideation of young adults in Bangladesh. The study included 250 young adults from four public universities in three different regions of Bangladesh, consisting of 124 males and 126 females. A cross-sectional study was conducted with convenience sampling for participant selection. Data were collected using the adapted Bangla versions of the Comprehensive Child Maltreatment Scale for Adults, the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, and the Self-Compassion Scale. The data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, the independent samples t-test, and the Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient. The findings revealed that all forms of childhood maltreatment were significantly negatively correlated with self-compassion. Each subscale of maltreatment also showed significant positive correlations with suicidal ideation, along with notable intercorrelations among the maltreatment subscales. Furthermore, females had significantly lower self-compassion and higher childhood maltreatment scores compared to males, particularly in neglect and witnessing family violence and sexual abuse. Psychological maltreatment scores did not differ by gender. The findings may help shed light on the harmful effects of maltreatment and aid in developing prevention and intervention strategies.