title: Understanding self-harm in victims of intimate partner violence: a qualitative analysis of calls made by victims to a crisis hotline in China.
abstract: Text analysis of the transcripts of 26 calls made to a Chinese crisis hotline by victims of intimate partner violence (IPV) reporting thoughts or acts of self-harm abstracted information on victims' patterns of self-harm and the relationship of their self-harm to IPV. Specific violent episodes often triggered self-harm. Victims considered self-harm a method for airing painful emotions caused by abuse or as a last resort to escape by dying when they saw no other options and were no longer able to endure the violence. We also elaborate on callers' discussions of barriers to accessing support, sociocultural pressures to preserve "face" and family, and restrictive gender roles that contribute to their self-harm behaviors.
authors.affiliation: Beijing Suicide Research and Prevention Center, Beijing Hui Long Guan Hospital, Beijing, China. susanpywong@gmail.com
authors.forename: Susan P Y
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Cuiling
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Mei
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Meng
authors.forename: Michael R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Phillips
mesh_terms: D018585:Battered Women / Q000523:psychology*; D002681:China; D003469:Culture; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D005783:Gender Identity; D015277:Hotlines; D006801:Humans; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012944:Social Support; D013179:Spouse Abuse / Q000523:psychology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D059020:Suicidal Ideation