title: Triggers for self-abuse: a qualitative study.
abstract: Deliberate acts of self-abuse evoke strong feelings among nurses. The purpose of this research was to describe how self-abusing women in a locked, state psychiatric hospital defined self-abuse in the context of their lives. The social constructionist framework informed the methodology of narrative analysis. Nine women were interviewed over 3 months for a total of 43 interviews. Four themes or linkages were identified: their pleas to be listened to and receive help, specific triggers for self-abusive behavior, the causes of the self-abusive behavior, and how to stop the self-abuse. Specific triggers were identified as well as suggested nursing interventions.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas at Arlington, School of Nursing, Arlington, TX 76019-0407, USA.
authors.forename: Mary T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Weber
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D009723:Nurse-Patient Relations; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D010552:Personality Assessment; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000451:nursing* / Q000523:psychology