Two studies were conducted to assess the relationship between self-blame & self-destructive behaviour in women sexually abused as children: 1) In a clinical sample of women sexually abused as children, high self-blamers were compared with low self-blamers on depression, self-destructive behaviour, & reasons for living. Women who had high self-blame were more depressed & suicidal, were more likely to have self-mutilated, & had weaker survival & coping beliefs than low-self blamers; 2) In a college sample, women who had high self-blame were more depressed & suicidal, had weaker survival & coping beliefs, & had more fear of suicide & fear of social disapproval than low self-blamers. Depression, self-blame, & reasons for living predicted a significant amount of the variance in suicidality. Self-blame is an important variable in understanding the self-destructive behaviour in women sexually abused as children. (28 refs)