Several studies have demonstrated relationships between loneliness and numerous psychological and physical difficulties among college students. The purpose of this study was to examine whether loneliness might be a factor associated with increased risk of self-injury among college students. The findings did not support the hypothesis that self-injury would be associated with elevated levels of loneliness. The findings were significant but in the opposite direction than expected. Furthermore, the findings regarding gender are in contrast to findings of previous research. S elf-injurious behavior (SIB), or deliberately harming oneself without suicidal intent, is a phenomenon that clinicians in a variety of settings are likely to encounter. Rates of self-injury among inpatient populations appear quite high (Brodsky, Cloitre, & Dulit, 1995), and research suggests that a large percentage of undergraduates may be engaging in this self-destructive behavior as well, with one study finding a lifetime prevalence rate of 38% (Gratz, Conrad, & Roemer, 2002). High prevalence rates among undergraduates could indicate that college counseling centers may be increasingly called upon to treat young adults presenting with this maladaptive behavior.Given the significant number of young adults affected and the potentially negative ramifications of this behavior, more research investigating the etiology and correlates of self-injury among young adults is needed. Thus far, researchers have identified several correlates of self-injury, although it is unclear whether these factors are specific to any certain age group. One correlate of self-injury is alexithymia (Paivio & McCulloch, 2004;Zlotnick et al., 1996), or the inability to speak about one's emotions. Alexithymia is thought to be a consequence of a deficit in emotional awareness, and researchers speculate that self-injury serves as a method of communication for such individuals. Physical separation from and emotional neglect by caregivers is also associated with SIB. Specifically, for male undergraduates, physical separation from their father during childhood was associated with greater risk for developing SIBs; however, only emotional neglect by mothers or fathers, and not physical separation, was predictive of self-injury among college women (Gratz et al., 2002). A third correlate of self-injury is greater impulsivity. Herpertz, Sass, and Favazza (1997) found that people who self-injure manifest more impulsive behaviors such as binge drinking, drug abuse, and acting in accordance with current wishes rather than planning for future needs. Their study also indicated that self-injury was associated with impaired serotonergic functioning in the brain, a condition that is often associated with difficulty inhibiting one's impulses. A number of studies have linked dissociation and self-injury, and Suyemoto's (1998) review of the research indicates that self-injury can serve both to produce
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.