Self-injurious behavior in Portuguese adolescents.
In order to assess the frequency and correlates of self-injurious behavior (SIB), 569 Portuguese adolescents aged 12 to 20 years completed questionnaires assessing SIB and psychopathological symptoms. Almost 28% (n = 158) reported a lifetime history of SIB and nearly 10% had performed it in the previous month. The most frequently injured body parts were arms, hands and nails. Most of the self-injurers admit that "now and then" they feel some "mild" to "moderate" pain during SIB. Most of them admitted using these behaviors to avoid/suppress negative feelings, painful images or memories, to punish themselves and to avoid doing something bad. Positive emotions increased significantly after SIB. The self-injurer group reported more psychopathological symptoms. SIB appears to be a common phenomenon with specific functions in adolescence and this must be addressed by clinicians and educational professionals.
Escola de Psicologia, Universidade do Minho, 4700 Braga, Portugal. sgoncalvespsychology@gmail.com
Sónia
S
Ferreira Gonçalves
Carla
C
Martins
Ana P
AP
Rosendo
Bárbara C
BC
Machado
Eliana
E
Silva
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult