The three reported articles examine self-mutilation (SM) in a community sample of adolescents. First, the frequency of the behavior, gender differences and self-mutilative practices were examined. In addition, two models of self-mutilation, the anxiety reduction model and hostility model were explored in order to gain preliminary information regarding possible etiological factors in the manifestation of self-mutilation. Finally, other related maladaptive behaviors such as depressive symptomatology and eating pathology were also investigated. Four hundred and forty students from two schools, an urban and a suburban high school were given a screening measure designed to assess for SM. Students who indicated that they hurt themselves on purpose also participated in a follow-up interview. Based on interviews it was found that 13.9% of all students reported having engaged in SM behavior on at least one occasion. Girls reported significantly higher rates of SM than boys. Self-cutting was found to be the most common type of SM, followed by self-hitting, pinching, scratching and biting. In terms of support for the models, students who SM reported significantly more anxiety and more intropunitive and extrapunitive hostility relative to students who did not SM. In addition, prior to self-mutilating, feelings of both hostility and anxiety were described. Findings lend support to the hostility model of self-mutilation. Finally, greater depressive symptomatology and eating pathology were reported by students who SM. Results are discussed with reference to the anxiety reduction model and the hostility model of SM.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:LACETR/oai:collectionscanada.gc.ca:QMM.85028 |
| Date | January 2004 |
| Creators | Ross, Shana |
| Publisher | McGill University |
| Source Sets | Library and Archives Canada ETDs Repository / Centre d'archives des thèses électroniques de Bibliothèque et Archives Canada |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Coverage | Doctor of Philosophy (Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology.) |
| Rights | All items in eScholarship@McGill are protected by copyright with all rights reserved unless otherwise indicated. |
| Relation | alephsysno: 002177405, proquestno: AAINR06337, Theses scanned by UMI/ProQuest. |
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