Self-harmful behaviors in a population-based sample of young adults.
A birth cohort of 472 women and 494 men aged 26 years was interviewed about a range of self-harmful behaviors first and then asked about suicidal intent. Lifetime prevalence of self-harm using traditional methods of suicide (ICD [International Classification of Diseases] self-harm) was 13%, with 9% of the sample describing at least one such episode as "attempted suicide." Other self-harmful behaviors were common; 14% of women and 33% of men reported self-battery. ICD self-harm over the past year was reported by 3%, mostly without suicidal intent. ICD self-harm and even lesser behaviors were associated with high odds of reporting suicidal ideation. The findings suggest that studies of self-harm should include behaviors not necessarily associated with suicidal intent.
Nada-Raja
Shyamala
S
Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand. shyamala.nada-raja@ipru.otago.ac.nz
Skegg
Keren
K
Langley
John
J
Morrison
Dianne
D
Sowerby
Paula
P
D000328:Adult; D002391:Catchment Area, Health; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires