title: Deliberate self-harm among younger and older adults.
abstract: This study examined self-harming behaviors among younger and older adults who completed the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI). A 2 (age group) × 2 (gender) analysis of variance showed a significant main effect for age such that younger adult students (M = 3.42, SD = 3.86) had higher SHI total scores than community-dwelling older adults (M = 1.58, SD = 2.35). Younger adults endorsed "Yes" responses significantly more frequently than older adults on 13 of 22 items. Future research should examine specific behaviors of older adults who self-harm more frequently and explore relationships between self-harming behaviors and other risk and resiliency factors for elder suicide.
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of Colorado , Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA.
authors.forename: Daniel L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Segal
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of Colorado , Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA.
authors.forename: Alyssa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Connella
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of Colorado , Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA.
authors.forename: Tory
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.affiliation: a Psychology Department , University of Colorado , Colorado Springs , Colorado , USA.
authors.forename: Frederick L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Coolidge
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057566:Self Report; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult