Self-Harm in Adolescents: A Self-Report Survey in Schools from Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

The study aims to determine the prevalence of self-harm (SH) and related psychosocial factors in a large sample of Portuguese adolescents. A total of 1,713 pupils, aged 12 to 20 years, completed an anonymous questionnaire in a school setting. In all, 7.3% reported at least 1 episode of SH: rates were 3 times higher for females than males. Almost half reported repeated SH, most commonly self-cutting. Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse were linked to SH, and particularly repeated SH. Anxiety, trouble with the police, and exposure to SH or suicide of others, were independently associated with SH in both genders. These findings indicate that SH is a public health concern in Portugal as in other European countries.

Mental health and suicidal behaviors in adolescents from a Portuguese island

“…In comparison to the population from the Centre region, Azorean young people have less problem--solving skills (coping): 155.04 in the Center region (Santos et al, 2014) versus 147.42 in the Azores. This dimension can partially explain the high percentage of self-harm behaviors, given the protective effect of adequate coping strategies (Guerreiro et al, 2015). Self-concept, although slightly lower in the Azores, is not significantly different from the results obtained in the Center region (Santos et al, 2014).…”

“…The difference in depressive symptoms, particularly in moderate and severe symptoms, should be noted: 15.7% for the Centre region and 19.9% for the Azores. Additionally, the percentage of young people who report self-cutting or having taken medication or ingested toxic substances (17.9%) is significantly higher than the percentage found in the Lisbon region (7.3%; Guerreiro et al, 2015), which emphasizes the risks for depression and suicidal behaviors in adulthood. We also observed a gender homogeneity concerning suicidal behaviors, which is not consistent with previous studies conducted in the Mainland where girls had three times more suicidal behaviors than boys (Guerreiro et al, 2015).…”

“…It is considered as a major risk factor for suicide, although suicidal thoughts do not always precede the act (Park et al, 2010). In Portugal, in a study conducted in the Lisbon region, 7.3% of the 1,713 sampled adolescents reported having had at least one self-harm episode (Guerreiro, Sampaio, Figueira, & Madge, 2015). Adolescents with suicidal behaviors have more health problems, more escape, aggressive and pre--delinquent behaviors and higher substance use than adolescents in general.…”

Adolescent self‐harm and risk factors

“…Self‐harm (SH) refers to a person's harming of his or her own body on purpose. Anxiety, depression, and substance abuse were linked to SH, in particular, repeated SH (Guerreiro et al ., ). SH incidence in Europe and America was about 5–9%, and about 5% of those injured required medical treatment (Skegg, ).…”

Social Representations About the Functions of Deliberate Self-Harm: Construction and Validation of a Questionnaire for Portuguese Adults

“…Deliberate self-harm consists of a range of self-aggressive behaviours with or without suicidal intent (Guerreiro, Sampaio, Figueira, & Madge, 2017; Hawton, Saunders, & O'Connor, 2012; Madge et al, 2008). In the past decades, deliberate self-harm has become more prevalent among adolescents (e.g., Hawton et al, 2012).…”