The cessation of deliberate self-harm in a university sample: the reasons, barriers, and strategies involved.
Information on how individuals cease deliberate self-harm behaviors, and what they experience as helpful and hindering to this process, was sought in order to optimize and inform treatment. University students (N = 54) with a past history of self-harm were queried about their experience with DSH cessation. Qualitative analysis revealed 6 themes of reasons for DSH cessation, 5 themes of strategies used to cease DSH behaviors, and 4 themes of barriers to cessation. Treatment can be informed by the motivations, strategies, and barriers that individuals experience during the cessation process. The positive strategies that individuals naturally use to cease DSH should be capitalized on in treatment, and the negative strategies should be minimized.
a Department of Psychology , University of Regina , Regina , Saskatchewan , Canada.
Bethany L
BL
Gelinas
Kristi D
KD
Wright
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D036301:Qualitative Research; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D057545:Social Stigma; D012944:Social Support; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult