Research evidence suggests that services are struggling to adequately address the increasing incidence of self-injury and the needs of women who self-injure, while national self-injury support-groups across the UK appear to be growing in number. Despite their reported value, evidence regarding the role of self-injury support-groups in women's management of their self-injury is lacking although government policy and official guidelines are advocating the incorporation of support-groups into self-injury services. Seven semi-structured interviews were conducted and analysed using Grounded Theory to investigate the role of three UK self-injury support-groups in women's management of self-injury and associated difficulties. Empowerment-as-process emerged as the core theme of self-injury supportgroups, mediated through experiences of belonging, sharing, autonomy, positive feeling and change. Findings are discussed in relation to relevant theory and research, followed by critical evaluation and implications of the study.
This article explores the feasibility of using standardized psychometric methods in the initial stages of an investigation of child sexual abuse; methods that are less intrusive and therefore less damaging to children and their families. We review the complex conceptual and research issues that arise from attempts to assess the many-sided aspects of child sexual maltreatment. Among those considered in both the clinical and research spheres are problems of definition and diagnosis; limitations of clinical interviews, and a variety of direct and indirect psychological instruments used for investigating sexual maltreatment and risk assessment; the inadequacies of experimental designs; and also the political, practical, and ethical restraints that hinder research in this area. It is argued that there is insufficient evidence based on controlled studies or standardized normative tests to advocate any simple, unidimensional methodology for the screening task. However, recommendations are put forward for the cautious, conjoint use of several procedures in a multidimensional approach to assessing child sexual abuse. Suggestions are also made for future research and development.
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