One-Year Test-Retest Reliability of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS)

Abstract

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a growing public health problem among adolescents and young adults. The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury (ISAS) is a self-report measure designed to assess NSSI behaviors and functions. The current study examines the one-year test—retest reliability of the ISAS in a sample of young adult self-injurers. Results indicate that the ISAS behavioral and functional scales demonstrate good stability over one year. For the behavioral scales, test—retest correlations ranged from .52 (biting) to .83 (burning), with a median of .68. For the functional scales, test—retest correlations were .60 for the superordinate intrapersonal functions scale and .82 for the superordinate interpersonal functions scale. Regarding individual functions, test—retest correlations ranged from .35 (affect regulation) to .89 (peer bonding), with a median of .59. Findings suggest the ISAS has good test—retest reliability and contributes to the growing literature on the psychometric properties of the ISAS.

Keywords

nonsuicidal self-injury deliberate self-harm functional assessment test—retest reliability psychometric properties

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Glenn, C.R. , & Klonsky, E.D. ( 2010). A multimethod analysis of impulsivity in non-suicidal self-injury. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 1, 67-75.

Klonsky, E.D. ( 2007). The functions of deliberate self-injury: A review of the evidence. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 226-239.

Klonsky, E.D. , & Glenn, C.R. ( 2009). Assessing the functions of non-suicidal self-injury: Psychometric properties of the Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (ISAS) . Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment, 31, 215-219.

Klonsky, E.D. , & Olino, T.M. ( 2008). Identifying clinically distinct subgroups of self-injurers among young adults: A latent class analysis. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 22-27.

Klonsky, E.D. , Oltmanns, T.F. , & Turkheimer, E. (2003). Deliberate self-harm in a nonclinical population: Prevalence and psychological correlates. American Journal of Psychiatry, 160, 1501-1508.

Nock, M.K. , Joiner, T.E. , Gordon, K.H. , Lloyd-Richardson, E. , & Prinstein, M.J. (2006). Non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: Diagnostic correlates and relation to suicide attempts . Psychiatry Research, 144, 65-72.

Nock, M.K. , & Prinstein, M.J. (2004). A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 885-890.

Ross, S. , & Heath, N. ( 2002). A study of the frequency of self-mutilation in a community sample of adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 31, 67-77.

Whitlock, J. , Eckenrode, J. , & Silverman, D. ( 2006). Self-injurious behaviors in a college population. Pediatrics, 117, 1939-1948.