Self-Injury among Adolescents: Gender and Cultural Issues

• In Event: 598 - Section on Sociology of Mental Health Roundtable Session
  In Refereed Roundtable: Section on Sociology of Mental Health Roundtables. Table 01. Adolescence and Young Adulthood

Abstract

The study estimates the prevalence and describe gender differences in reported non-suicidal self-injury among a representative sample of high school students. Using CDC Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data from Vermont in 2011, the prevalence of self-injury and variables believed to predict self-injury were estimated for high school age boys (N=4313) and girls (N=4178) as well as both genders combined. Point biserial correlations and logistic regression analyses were used to evaluate predictors of self-injury. Approximately 7.4% of boys and 17.9% of girls reported purposefully hurting themselves without wanting to die at least once during the previous 12 months. Fighting, forced sex, being bullied, being sad, planning suicide, attempting suicide, identifying as gay or lesbian, trying to change body weight, and alcohol, tobacco, and drug use were significantly correlated with self-injury. Logistic regression, using backwards elimination of variables revealed different predictors according to gender, with fighting significant for only boys (Odds Ratio=2.11; 95% CI=1.3-3.41) and forced sex (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.20-2.44), being bullied (OR=1.86, 95% CI=1.41-2.45), and trying to change body weight (OR=1.68, 95% CI=1.28- 2.19) significant only for girls, and alcohol and marijuana use not significant for either. Findings indicate that non-clinical populations of high school students, especially girls, are at high risk of self-injury. Efforts to treat and prevent self-injury should ideally begin before these behaviors require emergency room visits or are discovered in clinical settings. Existing understandings of the causes of self-injury are supported, though some gender differences emerge.

Authors

• Martin A. Monto, University of Portland

• Frank Deryck, University of California-Irvine

• Nick McRee, University of Portland