Deliberate self-harm in 14-year-old adolescents: how frequent is it, and how is it associated with psychopathology, relationship variables, and styles of emotional regulation?
Deliberate self-harm was studied in 14-year-old adolescents from four schools in southern Sweden with a test-retest design, using a nine-item version of the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory. At Time 1, 40.2% of the adolescents indicated deliberate self-harm on at least one occasion compared with 36.5% at Time 2. Test-retest data showed high stability over periods of up to 2 months in duration. Cross-validation of the results from Time 1 to Time 2 showed robust correlations between deliberate self-harm and general psychopathology, a relative absence of positive feelings toward parents, and a ruminative style of emotional regulation. Further, rumination/negative thinking and a relative absence of positive feelings toward parents were predictors of self-harm independently of general psychopathology. In addition, deliberate self-harm correlated with symptoms of eating disorder and negative body esteem in girls.
Bjärehed
Jonas
J
Department of Psychology, Lund University, Sweden. Jonas.Bjarehed@psychology.lu.se
Lundh
Lars-Gunnar
LG
D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology