Retrospective analysis of social factors and nonsuicidal self-injury among young adults.

Abstract

Retrospective reports of social influences in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) with regard to initiation, disclosure, methods, and motivations for engaging in the behaviour were examined in 23 (2 male, 21 female) self-injuring university students. Parent and peer social support was compared between the NSSI group and a comparison group that did not engage in NSSI. Lifetime frequency of NSSI and social support were evaluated. NSSI behaviours were found to be highly socially influenced in several ways, with 65% reporting that they talk to their friends about self-injury, 58.8% indicating that a friend had been the first to engage in self-injury, and 17.4% had self-injured in front of friends. Almost all participants endorsed emotional motivations for engaging in NSSI (91%); however, social motivations were also common (65.2%). Social support from peers was less for the NSSI group than the non-NSSI group, although social support was not found to be related to lifetime frequency of NSSI. The implications for understanding NSSI as a socially influenced behaviour are discussed.

Deliberate self-harm among Chinese medical students: A population-based study

“…To our knowledge, only a few other studies have examined the relationship between social capital and DSH. Several found that social support was inversely associated with prevalence of DSH (Heath et al, 2009;Kong et al, 2014). For example, nursing students with social support were less likely to deliberately self harm (Kong et al, 2014).…”

“…Foreign studies also found that trust and reciprocity are the strongest predictors of self-rated health and psychological wellbeing (Heath et al, 2009). Cognitive social capital might influence DSH behavior through increasing individual sense of trust and belonging.…”

Characterizing Interpersonal Difficulties Among Young Adults Who Engage in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Using a Daily Diary

“…Compared to individuals without a history of NSSI, those with NSSI report pervasive interpersonal problems, including poorer quality relationships with peers and caregivers (Claes, Houben, Vandereycken, Bijttebier, & Muehlenkamp, 2010;Gratz, Conrad, & Roemer, 2002;Hilt, Nock, Lloyd-Richardson, & Prinstein, 2008;Hoff & Muehlenkamp, 2009), greater loneliness (Giletta, Scholte, Engels, Ciairano, & Prinstein, 2012;Glenn & Klonsky, 2013;Guertin, Lloyd-Richardson, Spirito, Donaldson, & Boergers, 2001), higher rates of peer victimization (Giletta et al, 2012;Hilt et al, 2008), lower perceived support (Heath, Ross, Toste, Charlebois, & Nedecheva, 2009;Muehlenkamp, Brausch, Quigley, & Whitlock, 2013), and worse social problem-solving abilities (Nock & Mendes, 2008). Recent interpersonal theories of NSSI propose that interpersonal experiences may contribute to the development and maintenance of NSSI as both antecedents (e.g., rejection, conflict) and consequences (e.g., support) of this behavior (Nock, 2008(Nock, , 2009Prinstein, Guerry, Browne, & Rancourt, 2009;Yates, 2004).…”

Early Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Sensory Preference Differences: An Exploratory Study

“…Nearly half of adolescents who self-injure report social sources for how they learned about NSSI, including observing or learning from peers (38%) and media (13%), while 17% to 20% report that NSSI behavior is not socially learned (e.g., "I just wanted to try"). Surprisingly, 28% to 39% were unable to pinpoint where or how they learned about NSSI (Deliberto & Nock, 2008;Heath, Ross, Toste, Charlebois, & Nadecheva, 2009), which highlights the need for in-depth research regarding the means through which NSSI knowledge is acquired, as well as an exploration of potential differences between adolescents who recall the origin of NSSI behaviors and those who do not. Future research in this area should also explore source overlap (e.g., those who selfdiscovered but were also socially influenced to try NSSI regularly or use specific methods).…”

“…NSSI has typically been studied in adolescents because the reported average age of onset is 12 to 14 years (Deliberto & Nock, 2008;Heath, Ross, Toste, Charlebois, & Nadecheva, 2009). …”