The moderating effect of child abuse on the association between domestic violence and suicidal ideation/self-harm among Lebanese women

Violence and abuse against women and children remain prominent issues in Lebanon, resulting in dire psychological consequences. The aims of the current study are to evaluate the moderating role of child abuse in the relationship between (1) domestic violence and suicidal ideation, and (2) domestic violence and self-harm. This cross-sectional study was conducted between January and May 2023. Women between the ages of 18 and 50 were recruited to participate using a snowball sampling technique. 915 women consented to take an online questionnaire that collected information about sociodemographic characteristics. It also included the following scales: Composite Abuse Scale (Revised)-Short Form, Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale, Child Abuse Self-Report Scale (CASRS-12), and Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). Older age (aOR = 0.96) was significantly associated with lower odds of having suicidal ideation, whereas higher domestic violence (aOR = 1.09), psychological child abuse (aOR = 1.36) and child neglect (aOR = 1.09) were significantly associated with higher odds of having suicidal ideation. The interaction domestic violence by sexual abuse (aOR = 1.04) was significantly associated with suicidal ideation in the binary model. In an additional ordinal logistic regression analysis of suicidal ideation severity, older age remained protective, while child neglect and physical abuse were associated with greater severity of suicidal ideation. The interaction domestic violence by child neglect was significantly associated with self-harm. At low (Beta= 0.01; p = .013), moderate (Beta= 0.022; p < .001), and high (Beta= 0.035; p < .001) levels of child neglect, higher domestic violence was significantly associated with more self-harm. The current study results have the potential to guide mental health professionals in implementing further interventions for child abuse and domestic violence. It can encourage a multidisciplinary approach starting with Lebanese community-based programs that combine the efforts of researchers and practitioners in order to reduce the burden of child abuse and domestic violence.