Exploratory Analysis of the Self-Harming Behaviors Among University Students

Abstract

This study examines the self-harming behavior of some university students and determines the types of self-harming behavior these students engage in. A self-report questionnaire on self-harm was used in this study for 319 students. Results of the study show that the most common self-harming behaviors exhibited by the students were banging the head, abusing alcohol, cutting the self, hitting the self, and scratching the self on purpose, while the least common self-harming behaviors include torturing the self with self-defeating thoughts, being promiscuous, distancing self from God as punishment, driving recklessly on purpose, and engaging in emotionally abusive relationships. There is no significant difference in terms of gender among males and females who engaged in self-harming behaviors. However, exploratory analysis identifies significant mean differences in self-harming behaviors between students from different programs. It is recommended that an intervention program should be prepared in order to protect the mental health of the respondents and the university students in general.