Self-Harm Inventory Research Articles

The Relationship Between Self-Compassion and Self-Harm Behaviors Among Early Adolescents in the Agricultural Region of Jember Regency

Self-harm behaviour is prevalent among adolescents, particularly during early adolescence, a period characterized by significant pressures and demands. This study examines self-compassion as a potential coping mechanism to mitigate self-harm in early adolescents, specifically within the agricultural region of Jember Regency. The research employed a correlational design within a cross-sectional framework comprising 376 junior high school students. The participants were assessed for self-compassion utilizing the Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) and for self-harm behaviour through the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI). The findings indicate that 67.6% of participants exhibited moderate levels of self-compassion, while 84.8% reported low instances of self-harm behaviour. A statistically significant relationship was identified (p = 0.001), revealing a low negative correlation (r = -0.200), which suggests that higher levels of self-compassion are associated with reduced self-harm. In conclusion, the results underscore the importance of promoting self-compassion programs within schools and among healthcare professionals as a means to address self-harm in adolescents.

Self-harming behaviours and social support among a sample of young men in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abstract Background Psychiatric morbidity is substantially higher in Northern Ireland (NI) than in peer nations and men are disproportionately represented in suicide mortality data, particularly at early adulthood and middle age. To better scale interventions to reduce morbidity and mortality among young men, a mixed-methods study was conducted combining interviews and validated quantitative tools. Methods A non-random community sample of 30 working-class young men in Belfast aged 16-19 was recruited via organisations focused on job training, restorative justice, and youth work. Participants completed the Self-Harm Inventory and a semi-structured interview. Analyses were completed in NVivo and RStudio. Results The prevalence of self-harm was more than 8 times higher than for the general population of adolescents in NI, with 83.3% reporting ever engaging in self-harm. Only 2 of the 28 participants reported making a suicide attempt and most injuries were minor, suggesting nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) represented almost all injuries. Although the sample had a higher risk profile than the general population-with high levels of trauma, substance use, and socioeconomic deprivation-participants also endorsed strong social connections to friends, family, and community. While many expressed concerns about sharing their own emotional distress, almost all reported that disclosures are important to avert poor mental health and shared times when they or friends sought support. Conclusions Although there was a high prevalence of NSSI in the sample, the low prevalence of suicide attempts may be associated with the high levels of protective social connections reported by participants. Gender-based concerns regarding emotional support were common, but there was also strong endorsement for the importance of seeking support from trusted relationships. This suggests that there may be an appetite for male role models to provide education around the “bravery” of help-seeking. Key messages • Prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury may be substantially more elevated in some populations of adolescent males. • Gender-based concerns continue to act as a barrier to young men sharing their emotional distress with trusted individuals.

Asking to thrive: structures supporting young men’s behavioural health in Belfast, Northern Ireland

Abstract Background Men in Northern Ireland are three times more likely to die by suicide and psychiatric morbidity is significantly higher than for the United Kingdom overall, in part due to the Troubles, a 30-year conflict during which there were 34,000 shootings, 14,000 bombings, and 3,500 deaths. Prior studies suggest strong friendships and high collective efficacy in communities are protective against suicide and self-harm in adolescents and that inquiring about supportive people and structures directly-rather than through parental intermediaries-yields more accurate responses. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 30 adolescent males aged 16-19 from working-class communities across Belfast. Participants were recruited via trusted community partners and often had experiences with sectarianism and restorative justice. A deductive thematic analysis was conducted of interview transcripts, supplemented by responses to the Self-Harm Inventory and a modified Collective Efficacy Scale. Analyses were completed in NVivo and RStudio. Results In addition to male peer friendships in which they could share confidences, participants strongly endorsed the value of youth work organisations as keystones in supporting not only their own behavioural health through positive modelling but also the reduction of antisocial and sectarian behaviours in their communities. Participants named specific aspects of these structures they found most useful, including demonstrating “masculine success” though community engagement and family life, providing a safe venue for socialising, and delivering restorative justice programming. Conclusions Findings from this study suggest that youth work programming is an important component of both adolescent behavioural health promotion and community safety through the reduction of sectarian and other antisocial behaviours. Participants expressed dismay at the reduction of these services and endorsed both their personal and wider community importance. Key messages • Youth workers may provide valuable positive modelling and behavioural health support to the young men. • Youth work programmes may function both for behavioural health promotion and community violence reduction in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Psycho-Socio-Demographic Risk Factors of Self-injurious Behaviors in Iranian Females Inmates: A Case-Control Study

Background: Self-injurious behavior or self-harm among inmates is a common phenomenon. However, no study has yet been conducted in Iran regarding self-harm in female inmates. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the psycho-socio-demographic risk factors associated with non-suicidal self-harm in Iranian female inmates. Patients and Methods: Participants in this case-control study were 306 female inmates in Tehran, who were randomly selected and divided into two groups: (1) 88 individuals who scored 5 or higher on the Sansone Self-harm Inventory (SHI), and (2) 88 individuals randomly selected from the 218 inmates who did not self-harm as the comparison group. The participants completed a researcher-designed questionnaire, SHI, and the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale. The data were analyzed using logistic regression analysis in SPSS version 16. Results: Logistic regression analysis revealed that marital status (B = 1.438, P = 0.002), arrest history (B = 1.295, P = 0.005), substance abuse (B = 1.198, P = 0.011), psychiatric diagnoses (B = 1.126, P = 0.018), parental divorce (B = 1.280, P = 0.005), and difficulties in emotion regulation (B = 0.027, P = 0.022) were significant predictors of self-harm in inmates. Although there was a difference in the addiction rates of parents between those with self-harm and those without, this variable did not predict self-harm in female inmates (B = 0.488, P = 0.307). Conclusions: The results of this study underscore the importance of family-based preventive interventions to prevent self-harm behaviors among female inmates.

A Multi-Mediation Analysis of the Association between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among South African Adolescents.

The available research findings suggest that non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) constitutes an important public health issue, with identified risk factors for NSSI having been found to include exposure to adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and comorbidity with various mental disorders. However, the available findings have, for the most part, been based on the experiences of individuals living in predominantly high-income countries located in the Global North, and it is not clear whether these findings can be confidently generalised to individuals living in low-resourced countries. As such, this cross-sectional study assessed risk factors for NSSI in a non-clinical sample of 636 South African adolescents (12-18 years old), with the data being analysed using a multi-mediation analysis. ACEs were assessed using a revised version of the ACEs Questionnaire, and NSSI was assessed using items adapted from the Self-Harm subscale of the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents, with emotion dysregulation, depression, and PTSD being considered as possible mediators. High prevalence rates for NSSI and exposure to five or more ACEs were reported by the participants, with the mediation analysis indicating that significant direct effects of adverse childhood experiences on NSSI were partially mediated by emotion dysregulation. These findings are discussed with respect to their implications for primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention.

Cost-effectiveness of adding a smartphone app (BlueIce) to the mental health care of adolescents who repeatedly self-harm

Digital interventions can offer crises support although their cost-effectiveness is unknown. We undertook an economic evaluation alongside a two-arm, single blind, randomised controlled trial. 170 adolescents aged 12–17, receiving child and adolescent mental health care who had self-harmed ≥2 in the past 12 months were randomised to usual care with or without an app (BlueIce). The Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RTSHIA), and Child Health Utility 9-Dimensions (CHU-9D) were completed at baseline, 12-weeks, and 6-months. Mental healthcare use was extracted from clinical records. CHU-9D responses were converted to preference-based utility values to estimate quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs). Generalised linear models examined the effect of BlueIce from the NHS and Personal Social Services perspective on costs and QALYs. The cost of BlueIce was £32.26 with the mean cost of mental healthcare over 6 months ranging between £1750 - £2472 per participant. The 6-month difference in mean costs [-£722.09 (95 % CI:1998.84, 334.65)] and the utility score [0.009 (95 %CI:0.033, 0.052)] both favoured BlueIce. Youth derived QALYs showed an incremental net monetary benefit (NMB) at 6-months of £782.09 with an almost 70 % probability of being cost-effective. Given the low intervention cost, the addition of an app could be considered a good investment.

Psychometric Properties of Korean Version of Nonsuicidal Self-injury Inventory: Validation Study of Deliberate Self-harm Inventory.

This study aimed to develop a Korean version of the Nonsuicidal Self-injury Inventory (K-NSSI) through the Deliberate Self-harm Inventory (DSHI) developed by Gratz for the Korean context and confirm its reliability and validity for clinical application. A total of 188 participants were analyzed utilizing the DSHI, the Korean version of the Self-harm Inventory, the Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features (PAI-BOR), and the DSM-5 Level-2-Depression scale (Level-2-Dep). Cronbach's α assessed their reliability, while frequency analysis examined the items of the K-NSSI scales. Validity of the K-NSSI was confirmed through correlation analyses between K-NSSI (tendency for and frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury [NSSI] behavior) and SHI, PAI-BOR total scale, four subscales of PAI-BOR, and Level-2-Dep scale. Polyserial correlations analyzed the correlation between the presence of NSSI behavior and other scales. Confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modeling explored the relationship between borderline personality features and self-harm. Cronbach's α was 0.71, indicating an "acceptable" level of reliability. Statistically significant correlations were observed between the presence of NSSI behavior and the total scores of SHI and PAI-BOR, and the four subscales of PAI-BOR. The frequency of NSSI showed statistically significant correlations with the total score of SHI and PAI-BOR, and its four subscales. Notably, 13.8% of participants reported engaging in self-harm behaviors, 26.9% reported a single occurrence, and 73.1% reported two or more instances. Structural equation modeling demonstrated that self-harm adequately predicted borderline personality traits. This study successfully validated the adaptation of DSHI into K-NSSI. The K-NSSI can facilitate interventions for self-harm incidents.

Path to Suicidality in Korean Adolescents: Mediating Role of Self-Esteem, Somatic Symptoms, and Self-Harm Amid Depressive Symptoms

This study explored the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality among community-dwelling adolescents aged 10–18 years, examining whether self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm mediate this relationship. Utilizing a pre-existing dataset from a nationwide adolescent mental health survey conducted in Korea in 2021, data were collected using several standardized self-administered instruments: the Korean version of Rosenberg’s self-esteem scale, Korean Children’s Somatization Inventory, Korean version of the Self-Harm Inventory, Mental Health Screening for Depressive Disorders, and Mental Health Screening for Suicide Risk. A path model was constructed and validated, followed by path analysis to assess the effects. Data from 6689 adolescents, including 5937 students and 752 out-of-school adolescents, revealed that 18.7% were in the suicidality group, 11.8% experienced depressive symptoms, 57.9% exhibited somatic symptoms, and 27.4% engaged in self-harm. Depressive symptoms had a positive direct effect on suicidality (β = 0.166, p < 0.001, 95% confidence interval = 0.159–0.172). Bootstrapping tests showed a statistically significant indirect effect of self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm on the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality (β = 0.021, 95% confidence interval = 0.013–0.029). Our findings suggest that self-esteem, somatic symptoms, and self-harm mediate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidality, and comprehensive mental health management strategies addressing these factors are recommended.

Self-Harm Before and Six Months After Obesity Surgery.

Previous research on obesity surgery (OS) showed that patients do not only experience weight loss but also improvements in certain mental health outcomes (e.g., depression) after OS. However, self-harm behaviors might increase after OS. Regarding self-harm, the literature is mostly limited to studies using data from hospital or emergency room charts. This longitudinal study examined self-reported self-harm behaviors and potential psychopathological correlates before and after OS. Pre-surgery patients (N = 220) filled out a set of questionnaires before and approximately six months after OS. Self-harm behaviors were captured with the Self-Harm Inventory. The assessments further included standardized instruments to measure symptoms of depression, anxiety, eating disorders, alcohol use, and suicidal ideations. Any self-harm was reported by 24.6% before and by 25.0% after OS. No differences in the number of self-harm behaviors or prevalence of any self-harm before and after OS were found. Overall, 11.4% experienced self-harm behaviors at both times. A subset showed self-harm behaviors only before (13.2%) OS and another subset only after OS (13.6%). These two groups were about the same size. Self-harm behaviors showed strong associations with psychopathology after OS, especially with depression and suicidal ideation. No increase in self-harm behaviors after OS emerged. Still, a subgroup showed self-harm behaviors after OS closely linked to further psychopathology. This mirrors the need to implement screening for self-harm before and after OS into OS care. Further studies with longer follow up periods are needed to extend these findings.

Clinical effectiveness and safety of adding a self-harm prevention app (BlueIce) to specialist mental health care for adolescents who repeatedly self-harm: A single blind randomised controlled trial (the BASH study)

No randomised controlled trials have evaluated whether the addition of a smartphone app to usual child and adolescent mental health care (CAMHS) can reduce self-harm in adolescents (<18 years) with repeated self-harm. We enrolled 170 participants aged 12–17, receiving CAMHS treatment who had self-harmed ≥2 in the past 12 months. Participants were randomised via an independent web-based system (1:1, minimised for gender, age, self-harm frequency, and depression severity) to treatment as usual (TAU) or treatment as usual plus BlueIce (TAU+BI). BlueIce is a self-harm prevention app that includes techniques from CBT and DBT that was co-designed with adolescents who self-harm. The primary outcome was change from baseline to 12-weeks on the self-harm scale of the Risk Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RTSHIA), analysed by intention to treat (ITT). Emergency department attendances or admissions for self-harm were assessed over 6-months via a review of clinical records. Both groups improved but there were no statistically significant between group differences at 12 weeks or 6 months on the self-harm scale of the RTSHIA. There were fewer emergency department attendances and admissions in those who received the app, a finding that approached statistical significance. BlueIce can be helpful in some important aspects by contributing to fewer emergency department admissions and attendances. Trial registrationTrial registration number ISRCTN10541045.

The Assessment in Counseling for Mental Health

Assessment is one of the skills that a counselor needs to have when conducting counseling sessions involving clients who are experiencing mental health problems. Accurate assessments can help counselors make assessments when planning appropriate interventions for clients. Consequently, this article delves into the fundamental concept of assessment and explores the connection between it and client counseling. Counselors carry out an assessment process that involves four main phases: test selection, test administration, test interpretation, and communication of findings. All the processes involved in conducting the assessment are still integral to the counseling process. The types of tests that counselors usually use to look at these issues are also talked about: the BDI-II for depression, the STAI for anxiety, the STAXI-2 for anger, the self-harm inventory for self-harm, and the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT) for eating disorders. Accurate assessment is essential in conducting counseling sessions for clients with mental health concerns to enable the counselor to develop a suitable intervention plan and assist the client in addressing their specific challenges.

The predictor of non-suicidal self-injury behavior among adolescents: a cross-sectional study

Introduction: Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) among adolescents is a prevalent issue in Indonesia. Comprehensive understanding of NSSI is essential for uncovering the factors that trigger and predispose adolescents to such behavior. This knowledge serves as a foundation for crafting targeted nursing interventions to address and mitigate NSSI among this vulnerable population. This study aimed to identify determinant factors contributing to the occurrence of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behavior in adolescents. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional approach conducted between October and December 2023, with 570 respondents selected through simple random sampling. Socio-demographic, precipitating, and predisposing factors were measured using a checklist sheet. The Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) instrument was utilized to assess NSSI. Data analysis involved Pearson correlation and multiple regression to examine the relationships between variables. Results: The study revealed significant relationships among five variables. Gender (p-value = 0.004), bullying (p-value = 0.002), disappointment (p-value = 0.001), sharing place (p-value = 0.002), and communication pattern (p-value = 0.010) were identified as factors associated with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behavior in adolescents. On the other hand, personality (p-value = 0.174), environment (p-value = 0.260), coping mechanism (p-value = 0.458), and parenting style (p-value = 0.054) showed no association with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behavior. Conclusions: The findings underscore the significance of disappointment and the absence of a supportive environment in influencing NSSI. This highlights important considerations for healthcare professionals, educators, and policymakers. Strategies should encompass comprehensive approaches, early detection, and targeted interventions to foster supportive environments and address the complex nature of NSSI among adolescents.

Analysis of factors self-harm behaviour among adolescents undergoing drug rehabilitation in Indonesia

Introduction: The study aimed to analyse the factors associated with self-harm behaviour in adolescents in drug rehabilitation. Methods: This study used a descriptive-correlative design with a cross-sectional approach. The sample in this study was 241 adolescents who were in drug rehabilitation using the purposive sampling technique. This research was conducted in the Lido Centre for the Rehabilitation of the National Narcotics Agency, the Lampung Centre for Rehabilitation of the National Narcotics Agency, the Cipinang Besar Utara Narcotics Penitentiary, the Special Prison for Children of Jakarta, Lampung Narcotics Penitentiary, and the Al Islamy Foundation. This study used five questionnaires, namely the Internalized Stigma of Mental Illness, Self-Identity Questionnaire, UCLA Loneliness Scale Version 3, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory. This study was analysed using a logistic regression test. Results: The results of the logistic regression analysis showed that, from several factors related to self-harm, namely loneliness, self-identity, and stigma, two factors that are most related to self-harm behaviour are self-identity and stigma, with a p-value of 0.000 (p&lt;0.05). Conclusions: Self-harm behaviour can occur due to factors such as self-identity and stigma. This research can be a basis for providing nursing interventions to adolescents undergoing drug rehabilitation. Appropriate nursing interventions can help adolescents undergoing drug rehabilitation control the self-harm behaviour they want to engage in. Researchers recommend the importance of interventions aimed at strengthening self-identity and reducing stigma in efforts to prevent and treat self-harm behaviour. Additionally, future research is recommended to consider other variables that may also contribute to this behaviour.

Adolescent Self-harm Behavior Based on Depression, Family Emotional Climate, School Identity, and Academic Performance

Background: This study investigated factors affecting self-harming behaviors and preventing self-harming thoughts and behavior in adolescent girls. Physical, cognitive, and socioemotional changes accompany adolescence. The family and school must support the adolescent in this regard. Methods: The research is a correlational study, and data collection was through the census method. All 150 girls aged between 12 and 24 years who lived in one of the villages (Benoband) of Bandar Abbas City, Iran, in 2022 were recruited. The deliberate self-harm inventory (Gratz, 2001), the Kutcher adolescent depression scale, the dual school climate, and school identification measure-student, the academic performance questionnaire (Pham &amp; Taylor, 1999), and the affective family climate were used for data collection. The collected data were analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis in SPSS software, version 26. Results: The results revealed that depression has a direct relationship with self-harm (0.30), the emotional atmosphere of the family (-0.49), and school climate and identity (-0.49). Also, the academic performance had a significant negative relationship (-0.47) with self-harm (P&lt;0.001). Regression analysis showed that these variables can explain 39% of the variance of adolescent self-harm behavior (F=25.16, P≤0.001). Conclusion: The research showed that teenagers need education and awareness in schools and families. Also, parents’ education to familiarize them with the particular characteristics of adolescents, including their emotional and social characteristics, will lead to a greater understanding of the adolescent in the family and mental and psychological peace of the adolescents. A comprehensive health education program should include coping skills, interpersonal communication, goal setting, anger management, and advocacy skills.

Effects of the mindfulness program for male substance abusers in Thailand on stress, deliberate self-harm, and drug abstinence intention: A repeated-measure design.

Substance abuse is prevalent among males, and mindfulness could serve as a means of helping individuals suffering from the adverse effects of substance abuse find relief. This study employed a one-group repeated-measure design and aimed to evaluate the effects of the mindfulness program on stress, deliberate self-harm, and drug abstinence intention among male substance abusers. The mindfulness program was implemented for Thai males with a history of narcotic drug use. Five participants were recruited from a rehabilitation institute in Thailand using convenience sampling. The program consisted of eight sessions over four weeks. The study outcomes were measured at three time points: pre-intervention (Time 1, Week 1), post-intervention (Time 2, Week 4), and follow-up (Time 3, Week 6). Research instruments included the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory, the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Drug Abstinence Intention Questionnaire, all of which had Cronbach's alpha values above 0.80. Data analysis was carried out using the Friedman test and Dunn-Bonferroni post-hoc test. The eight-session program was implemented as intended, with a retention rate of 100%. The mean scores of deliberate self-harm and drug abstinence intention were significantly different across the three time points (χ2 = 10.000 and χ2 = 9.579, p <0.01, respectively). After conducting pairwise comparisons, the mean scores of deliberate self-harm at Time 2 and Time 3 were significantly lower than those at Time 1. Additionally, the mean scores of drug abstinence intention at Time 2 and Time 3 were higher than those at Time 1. However, the mean score of stress did not have a significant difference. This program was both acceptable and effective in reducing deliberate self-harm and improving drug abstinence intention. These findings suggest that nurses and healthcare teams involved in caring for individuals with substance abuse issues could utilize this intervention alongside other therapies or hospital treatments. Consequently, relapse prevention among substance abusers could be achieved.Thai Clinical Trials Registry Number: TCTR20230404001.

A study on the association between prefrontal functional connectivity and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depression.

Among adolescents with depression, the occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is prevalent, constituting a high-risk factor for suicide. However, there has been limited research on the neuroimaging mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and NSSI behavior, and the potential association between the two remains unclear. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the alterations in functional connectivity (FC) of the regions in the prefrontal cortex with the whole brain, and elucidates the relationship between these alterations and NSSI behavior in adolescents with depression. A total of 68 participants were included in this study, including 35 adolescents with depression and 33 healthy controls. All participants underwent assessments using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (17-HAMD) and the Ottawa Self-Harm Inventory. In addition, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data of the participants' brains were collected. Subsequently, the FCs of the regions in the prefrontal cortex with the whole brain was calculated. The FCs showing significant differences were then subjected to correlation analyses with 17-HAMD scores and NSSI behavior scores. Compared to the healthy control group, the adolescent depression group exhibited decreased FCs in several regions, including the right frontal eye field, left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, right orbitofrontal cortex, left insula and right anterior cingulate coetex. The 17-HAMD score was positively correlated with the frequency of NSSI behavior within 1 year (rs = 0.461, p = 0.005). The FC between the right anterior cingulate cortex and the right precuneus showed a negative correlation with the 17-HAMD scores (rs = -0.401, p = 0.023). Additionally, the FC between the right orbitofrontal cortex and the right insula, demonstrated a negative correlation with the frequency of NSSI behavior within 1 year (rs = -0.438, p = 0.012, respectively). Adolescents with depression showed decreased FCs of the prefrontal cortex with multiple brain regions, and some of these FCs were associated with the NSSI frequency within 1 year. This study provided neuroimaging evidence for the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying adolescent depression and its comorbidity with NSSI behavior.

Self-harm in sexually abused adolescents: The role of posttraumatic symptoms, emotional impulsivity, and negative cognition.

Posttraumatic symptoms, emotional impulsivity, and negative cognition have been proposed as pathways in explaining why individuals have experienced trauma are at increased risk for self-harm. The present study examined whether emotional impulsivity (i.e., negative and positive urgency) and negative cognition (i.e., personal attribution and feeling different from peers) mediate the path from posttraumatic symptoms to self-harm in sexually abused adolescents, a population at the highest risk for self-harm. One hundred and thirty-one sexually abused youths aged 10-18 years in South Korea completed the Self-Harm Inventory, UPPS-P (urgency-premeditation-perseverance-sensation seeking-positive urgency) Impulsive Behaviors Scales for use with children, and Children's Attribution and Perception Scale, and their parents completed the Korean version of the parent report of posttraumatic symptoms. Among the adolescent participants, 77.1% (n = 101) reported engaging in at least one self-harm behavior, and 61.8% (n = 81) reported engaging in deliberate self-injury. Mediation model analyses showed that parent-reported posttraumatic symptoms predicted more self-harm behaviors among sexually abused adolescents. The indirect effect of parent-reported posttraumatic symptoms on self-harm through adolescents' negative cognition was significant, but the indirect effect through emotional impulsivity was not. The results indicate that, at least among sexually abused adolescents, posttraumatic symptoms lead to self-harm via negative cognition rather than increased emotional impulsivity. These findings suggest that sexually abused adolescents suffering from posttraumatic symptoms are more likely to engage in self-harm in response to negative cognition of themselves and the world rather than as an impulsive response to intense emotions. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Self-Harming Behaviors and Psychopathy Traits in Abused Children

This study aimed to explore child abuse and neglect in relation to psychopathy and self-harming behaviors. A cross-sectional correlational research design was used to carry out the research. A sample of 100 children (50 boys &amp; 50 girls) was selected at age ranging from 12-18 years through purposive sampling. The data was collected from two NGOs in Lahore through purposive sampling. An adapted and translated Child Abuse Screening Tool was used to identify children with different levels and types of abuse and neglect. Urdu version of the Youth Psychopathy Inventory was used to find out psychopathy traits. The deliberate Self-Harm Inventory was translated into Urdu for the purpose of assessing self-harm behavior in participants along with a demographic questionnaire. Pearson product-moment correlation showed there was no significant relationship between psychopathy and child abuse. It was identified that there were no significant gender differences between psychopathy traits and self-harming behaviors in abused children. The current study is significant because it addresses the pressing public issue prevailing in the country day by day, and it has a negative impact on the victim’s survival. The findings revealed that child abuse leads victims towards self-harm and can develop psychopathic traits. On the basis of results, further study is needed to be conducted on these variables, as self-harm was more reported in abused children as compared to psychopathic traits. The variables used in this study needed to be addressed broadly to evaluate the clear impact of abuse in this study, the limitation was the availability of limited data due to the sensitivity of the topic or legal issues that could be addressed in future studies.

Zero Self-Harm app: a mobile phone application to reduce non-suicidal self-injury—study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a growing healthcare problem. Individuals with NSSI have an increased risk of suicidality. Due to stigma, they may self-injure in secret, which means they might not seek help until events have escalated to include suicidal ideation or a mental disorder. Interventions delivered via mobile phone applications (apps) have been linked to reductions in self-injury. This protocol outlines a trial, which examines whether the Zero Self-Harm intervention, consisting of an app for people with NSSI, can reduce the number of NSSI episodes, suicide ideation, and depressive symptoms.MethodsThe trial will be conducted as a 6-month 2-arm, parallel-group, multicentre, pragmatic, randomized clinical superiority trial. The intervention group will receive the app and instructions on how to use it, while the control group will be allocated to a waitlist and allowed to download the app after 6 months. After inclusion, participants will be asked to complete questionnaires at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary outcome is the number of NSSI episodes during the preceding month, as measured at the 6 months follow-up with the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory. A total of 280 participants, 140 in each arm, will be included.DiscussionThis trial will assess the effectiveness of the Zero Self-Harm intervention to reduce the number of NSSI episodes. If effective, the app will have the potential to support a large group of people with NSSI. Considering the stigma related to NSSI, the fact that the app may be used in private and anonymously might make it an appealing and acceptable option for support. The app was developed in collaboration with people with lived experiences related to current and/or previous NSSI. As a result of this, the app focuses on minimizing harm, rather than stopping NSSI. This might enhance its utilization.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04463654. Registered on 7 June 2020.

A Comparative Analysis of Emotional Regulation and Maladaptive Symptoms in Adolescents: Insights from Iran and Belgium

(1) Background: Emotional regulation is a critical determinant of adaptive functioning during adolescence, exerting a profound influence on psychological well-being. This study seeks to deepen our understanding of the intricate interplay between emotional regulation and maladaptive psychological symptoms, examining these dynamics through a cross-country comparison. (2) Methods: A total of 224 adolescents, aged 13 to 21 years, from both Iran and Belgium, participated in a cross-sectional comparative study. The study aimed to elucidate the relationship between emotional regulation and mental health functioning, assessing internalizing symptoms, externalizing symptoms, and self-injury. A demographic questionnaire, the Emotion Regulation Inventory, the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire, and the Self-Harm Inventory, were administered. Data analysis incorporated correlation assessments, multivariate analysis of variance, and structured equation modeling. (3) Results: The findings revealed a positive association between emotional dysregulation and psychological symptoms across the entire sample. Conversely, emotional suppression, more prevalent in Iran, showed no significant link with maladaptive symptoms but was associated with self-harm in the Belgian sample. Cultural disparities were evident, with internalizing problems more prevalent in Iran and externalizing issues more common in Belgium. (4) Conclusions: Emotional dysregulation emerged as a common factor compromising mental health. It emphasizes the necessity of considering cultural nuances when developing interventional and preventative programs and calls for further research in this field.