title: Coping style as a mediator of the relationship between depressive symptoms and deliberate self-harm.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Deliberate self-harm (DSH) occurs with high frequency among clinical and nonclinical youth populations. Although depression has been consistently linked with the behavior, not all depressed individuals engage in DSH.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The current study examined maladaptive coping strategies (i.e., self-blame, distancing, and self-isolation) as mediators between depression and DSH among undergraduate students.
  
  
  METHODS
  202 students from undergraduate psychology courses at a private university in Southern California (77.7% women) completed anonymous self-report measures.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A hierarchical regression model found no differences in DSH history across demographic variables. Among coping variables, self-isolation alone was significantly related to DSH. A full meditational model was supported: Depressive symptoms were significantly related to DSH, but adding self-isolation to the model rendered the relationship nonsignificant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cross-sectional study design prevents determination of whether a casual relation exists between self-isolation and DSH, and obscures the direction of that relationship.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results suggest targeting self-isolation as a means of DSH prevention and intervention among nonclinical, youth populations.
authors.affiliation: University of San Diego, CA, USA. allisonschristian@gmail.com
authors.forename: Allison S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Christian
authors.forename: Kristen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: McCabe
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011581:Psychological Tests; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012917:Social Adjustment; D055815:Young Adult