Frequency of adolescent self-cutting as a predictor of HIV risk.
OBJECTIVE
A wide range exists in the frequency of adolescent self-cutting behavior; however, the implications of this variability are relatively unexplored. Although evidence suggesting a relationship between self-harm and sexual risk behaviors has been identified, little is known regarding the relationship between frequency of self-cutting and sexual risk. The present study aimed to test the hypothesis that adolescents who repeatedly self-cut would report more HIV risk behaviors and riskier attitudes than those who had engaged in infrequent self-injury.


METHODS
Adolescents (11-18 years; mean age, 15 years) from intensive psychiatric treatment programs with a history of self-cutting (N = 105, 53% female) completed measures of self-cutting, sexual risk behaviors, and risk attitudes.


RESULTS
Frequent self-cutting (more than three times, lifetime) was associated with being sexually active, using condoms inconsistently, and sharing cutting instruments. Frequent self-cutters were significantly more likely to be female and nonwhite, and report low self-restraint. They also showed a trend toward being more likely to have a history of sexual abuse.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found important differences in self-cutters based on frequency of cutting. Adolescent self-cutting may be a spectrum of behavior that ranges from habitual, repeated behavior contrasted with infrequent, experimental, socially motivated cutting. The associations between frequent cutting, sexual risk, and low self-restraint suggest that common underlying mechanisms may determine these patterns.
Bradley/Hasbro Children's Research Center, Rhode Island Hospital, Providence, Rhode Island 02903, USA. lkbrown@lifespan.org
Larry K
LK
Brown
Christopher D
CD
Houck
Cynthia I
CI
Grossman
Celia M
CM
Lescano
Jennifer L
JL
Frenkel
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D007174:Disruptive, Impulse Control, and Conduct Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D014481:United States; D047568:Unsafe Sex