Patterns of non-suicidal self-injurious behaviours among college students in India

Context:Intentional self-directed acts of injury are the most common among adolescents and young adults. Developmental psychopathology theories that conceptualize pathways to self-injurious behaviors (SIBs) implicate insecure attachment representations and inadequate self-regulatory skills to cope with emotional distress.Aims:The study aimed to examine relationships between SIBs, attachment, and emotion regulation among college students.Materials and Methods:A total of 470 participants from undergraduate and postgraduate colleges completed the functional assessment of self-mutilation questionnaire, attachment style questionnaire, and the difficulties in emotion regulation scale.Results:Results indicated that 31.2% of the participants reported SIB in the past year, with the mean age of onset being 15.9 years. Moderate/severe forms of self-injury (e.g. cutting, burning) were reported by 19.8% of the sample. Self-injuring youth reported higher levels of anxious attachment, preoccupation with relationships and need for approval in relationships, and difficulties in all domains of emotion regulation. Logistic regression analysis identified preoccupation with relationships and impulse control difficulties as predictors of SIB.Conclusions:The findings have implications for comprehensive interventions for self-injuring youth.

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“…More detailed results on the characteristics of self-injury in this sample are available in a previous publication. [18]…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Self-injurious behavior, emotion regulation, and attachment styles among college students in India

Kharsati

Bhola

2016

Ind Psychiatry J

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“…Avoidance only enhances the likelihood of high stress, nervousness, and anxiety, given that uncertainty manifests as a continuous threat that calls for resolution (Hofstede, 1980). An Indian study found that the most two common reasons for DSH among college students was compromise of the need "to feel relaxed (41.8%)" and "in control (41.1%)" (Kharsati and Bhola, 2015). Self-harming is an unhealthy adaptation to uncertainty stress, even if it helps relieve the potential negative effect of stress associated with a perceived loss or losing of self-control (Atienza et al, 2001).…”

Section: Uncertainty Stress and Dshmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In recent years, DSH has become more prevalent among adolescents and young adults, and consequently a more prominent research topic (Kerr et al, 2010). Prevalence of DSH appears high among college students (Kharsati and Bhola, 2015;Li and Meng, 2014). A plausible explanation is that the students are in emerging adulthood (ages stressors (Arria et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A study of Turkish undergraduates found that 15% had a lifetime prevalence of DSH (Toprak et al, 2011). An Indian study of college students reported a 12-month prevalence of DSH of 31% (Kharsati and Bhola, 2015). The prevalence of DSH in Chinese college students, based on extant literature, ranges from 11% to 33% (Huang et al, 2011;Li and Meng, 2014;Su et al, 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Deliberate self-harm among Chinese medical students: A population-based study

Rockett

Yang

et al. 2016

Journal of Affective Disorders

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“…Also, disclosure of NSSI was low among both sexes, because only 8.9% disclosed their self-injuries to a mental health professional. Kharsati and Bhola (2014) found that the most common method of NSSI was self-hitting (15.2%), followed by cutting or carving skin (13.2%). Self-efficacy has been found to be related to depressive and anxiety symptoms and in one study to mediate the relation of stressful life events with depression and anxiety symptoms (Maciejewski, Prigerson, & Mazure, 2000;Muris, 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-suicidal self-injuries in a sample of Mexican university students

Silva

Benjet

García

et al. 2017

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Introduction. Non-suicidal self-injuries (NSSI) are a worldwide health problem that affects principally young people, and can impact negatively the mental and physical health of those that self-injure. Objective. To examine the frequency of NSSI in 564 undergraduate students (132 male, 432 female) from Mexico City and the association of NSSI with depressive symptoms, anxiety, impulsivity, self-efficacy, and emotion regulation. Method. A convenience sample of 564 undergraduate students (aged 17-26 years) from eight universities in the Mexico City metropolitan area completed a survey in their classrooms. Results. Of the total sample, 30.9% had experimented at some point in their lifetime with NSSI on one to four occasions, while 26.9% had recurrent NSSI (i.e., five or more occasions). Nearly eleven percent self-injured in the prior 12 months. The NSSI most often reported among those who self-injured was cutting oneself (48.0%). Recurrent self-injurers reported higher levels of depression and impulsivity, and less self-efficacy than those who had experimented with such behaviors or without any lifetime NSSI. While 54.4% perceived the need for professional help, only 18.1% sought professional services. Discussion and conclusion. NSSI is a hidden problem in the college population in Mexico City which needs to be addressed by university administrators and mental health professionals. Depressive symptomatology, impulsivity, and self-efficacy are factors that should be considered when developing preventive intervention strategies.

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Patterns of non-suicidal self-injurious behaviours among college students in India

Abstract: The findings underscore the need to increase the awareness and understanding of NSSIs and to plan targeted interventions among college youth.

Cited by 55 publications

References 69 publications

Self-injurious behavior, emotion regulation, and attachment styles among college students in India

Self-injurious behavior, emotion regulation, and attachment styles among college students in India

Deliberate self-harm among Chinese medical students: A population-based study

Non-suicidal self-injuries in a sample of Mexican university students

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