Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Its Relation to Personality Traits in Medical Students

Allroggen, Marc; Kleinrahm, Rita; Rau, Thea; Weninger, Laura; Ludolph, Andrea G.; Plener, Paul L.

doi:10.1097/nmd.0000000000000122

Cited by 30 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 44 publications

(50 reference statements)

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“…As examples, individuals who are high in neuroticism report lower levels of self-compassion (Neff, Rude, & Kirkpatrick, 2006;Thurackal, Corveleyn, & Dezutter, 2016), and persons with depression and anxiety report that it might be difficult to manifest feelings of compassion, in part due to the negative experiences associated with their illness (Pauley & McPherson, 2010). Given that individuals who engage in NSSI have higher levels of neuroticism (Allroggen et al, 2014), it may be that self-compassion is stifled and, indeed, that individuals may feel as if their illness experiences make them unable to manifest or benefit from self-kindness. Yet, as we report in another study, of US veterans, it is precisely at these difficult times that self-compassion should be activated and of maximum usefulness, suggesting that -if "unlocked"and promoted, selfcompassion might be a powerful tool in the prevention of suicide (Rabon, Brooks, Kaniuka, Sirois, & Hirsch, submitted for publication).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression and Suicidal Behavior in College Students: Conditional Indirect Effects of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Compassion

Kaniuka

Kelliher-Rabon

Chang

et al. 2019

Journal of College Student Psychotherapy

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Young adults of college age are at particular risk for psychopathology, non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and consequent suicidal behavior, perhaps in a continuum of increasing severity. However, not all persons who experience psychopathological symptoms, or who self-harm, go on to engage in suicidal behavior, perhaps due to protective factors such as self-compassion that buffer this progression. We examined the mediating effect of NSSI on the relation between anxiety/depressive symptoms and suicide risk, and the moderating role of self-compassion on these linkages. Our collegiate sample (N=338) completed: Beck Depression Inventory, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Self-Harm Inventory, Suicidal Behavior Questionnaire-Revised, and the Self-Compassion Scale. Students with greater psychopathology reported more engagement in NSSI and, consequently, more suicide risk; self-compassion weakened the psychopathology-NSSI linkage. Therapeutically addressing risk factors for suicidal behavior (e.g., psychopathology, NSSI), and promoting self-compassion, may halt progression from symptomology to self-harm, thereby ultimately reducing suicide risk in college students. Prevalence of Suicide and Suicide-Related Behavior Over 800,000 individuals die by suicide worldwide each year, making it the 15 th leading cause of death across age groups and the 2 nd leading cause of death among individuals 15-29 years old (World Health Organization [WHO], 2014). In the United States, suicide is the 10 th leading cause of death and the 2 nd leading cause of death in young adults aged 15 to 24 years old, with an individual dying by suicide every 13 minutes (CDC, 2015). Suicide rates continue to rise, both nationally and globally (WHO, 2015; Xu et al., 2014); however, these rates of suicide may be underestimated, reported as accidents or homicides, given the social stigma often surrounding suicide (Timmermans, 2005). Even more common than death by suicide is suicide-related behavior, including suicidal ideation and suicide attempts, and it is estimated that, in the United States, there are as many as 25 suicide attempts for each death by suicide (Crosby, Han, Ortega, Parks, & Gfroerer, 2011). Prevalence of suicide attempts worldwide is 0.4%, or approximately 20 attempts for every death by suicide (WHO, 2015). Terminologically, suicide-related behavior (Silverman, Berman, Sanddal, O'Carroll, & Joiner, 2007) encompasses a continuum, ranging from suicidal ideation, or thoughts of suicide, to planning for suicide and, last, suicide attempts and death by suicide (Kachur, Potter, Powell, & Rosenberg, 1995). Suicidal ideation is defined as thoughts about killing oneself (e.g., "I wish I were dead"), and can include thoughts about a plan for suicide (i.e., the means one would use). A suicide attempt is defined as intentional self-inflicted injury performed to result in death, which differs from a death by suicide in that the individual does not end their life, as an attempt may or may not result in injury (Kazdin, 2000; Nock & Kessler, 2006). These behaviors decr...

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression and Suicidal Behavior in College Students: Conditional Indirect Effects of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Compassion

Kaniuka

Kelliher-Rabon

Chang

et al. 2019

Journal of College Student Psychotherapy

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“…When comparing studies conducted in different age groups in Germany, adults show a lower lifetime prevalence than adolescents [ 16 , 18 – 20 ] or young adults [ 21 ]. This seems to be counterintuitive since lifetime prevalence should increase over the life span, as risks and exposure time accumulate.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite these multiple studies from adolescent samples, only one study so far reported prevalence rates of NSSI from a young adult sample from Germany. In a study of 714 medical students (mean age: 23.1, age range: 18-35 years) a lifetime prevalence of 14.3 % of NSSI was found, thus showing lower rates than in all community samples of adolescents, that have been researched in Germany up to that point [ 21 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in a representative sample of the German population

et al. 2016

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BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a proposed new “condition for further study” in the DSM-5. To date no prevalence data has been available on this diagnostic entity from a representative sample of the general population.MethodsA representative sample of the German population (N = 2509, mean age = 48.8 years, SD = 18.1, female 55.4 %) completed the NSSI section of the German version of the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview (SITBI-G).ResultsA history of NSSI at least once during lifetime was reported by 3.1 % of all participants, with higher lifetime prevalence rates in younger age groups. DSM-5 NSSI disorder criteria were met by 0.3 %. The most common function of NSSI was automatic negative reinforcement (e.g. to alleviate negative feelings).ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study reporting rates for the proposed NSSI category in DSM-5 from a representative sample of the general population. In comparison to findings from community samples of adolescents, adults seem to have lower lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI, thus making it necessary to emphasize prevention and treatment efforts in younger age groups.

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“…For example, openness to experience (nonconformity) predisposes individuals to experiment with different coping strategies, including self-injury [55]. High levels of neuroticism are also linked to NSSI [56,57]. Feelings of loneliness, isolation and alienation from peers and wider society are all major components of contemporary suicide and self-injury theories [58-60].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Why alternative teenagers self-harm: exploring the link between non-suicidal self-injury, attempted suicide and adolescent identity

et al. 2014

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BackgroundThe term ‘self-harm’ encompasses both attempted suicide and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Specific adolescent subpopulations such as ethnic or sexual minorities, and more controversially, those who identify as ‘Alternative’ (Goth, Emo) have been proposed as being more likely to self-harm, while other groups such as ‘Jocks’ are linked with protective coping behaviours (for example exercise). NSSI has autonomic (it reduces negative emotions) and social (it communicates distress or facilitates group ‘bonding’) functions. This study explores the links between such aspects of self-harm, primarily NSSI, and youth subculture.MethodsAn anonymous survey was carried out of 452 15 year old German school students. Measures included: identification with different youth cultures, i.e. Alternative (Goth, Emo, Punk), Nerd (academic) or Jock (athletic); social background, e.g. socioeconomic status; and experience of victimisation. Self-harm (suicide and NSSI) was assessed using Self-harm Behavior Questionnaire and the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FASM).ResultsAn “Alternative” identity was directly (r ≈ 0.3) and a “Jock” identity inversely (r ≈ -0.1) correlated with self-harm. “Alternative” teenagers self-injured more frequently (NSSI 45.5% vs. 18.8%), repeatedly self-injured, and were 4–8 times more likely to attempt suicide (even after adjusting for social background) than their non-Alternative peers. They were also more likely to self-injure for autonomic, communicative and social reasons than other adolescents.ConclusionsAbout half of ‘Alternative’ adolescents’ self-injure, primarily to regulate emotions and communicate distress. However, a minority self-injure to reinforce their group identity, i.e. ‘To feel more a part of a group’.

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Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and Its Relation to Personality Traits in Medical Students

Cited by 30 publications

References 44 publications

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression and Suicidal Behavior in College Students: Conditional Indirect Effects of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Compassion

Symptoms of Anxiety and Depression and Suicidal Behavior in College Students: Conditional Indirect Effects of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Self-Compassion

The prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in a representative sample of the German population

Why alternative teenagers self-harm: exploring the link between non-suicidal self-injury, attempted suicide and adolescent identity

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