Studies are sparse on caretaker perceptions about self-cutting (SC) in institutionalised adolescents.
Methods:
Five caretakers in a shelter home for adolescent girls were interviewed and the data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis.
Results:
Nine major themes emerged: expected reactions from others led to secrecy; reasons were relational and academic difficulties; benefits were control of emotions/thoughts or to get others’ attention; learning happened by witnessing and change in thinking; challenges were systemic contagion, counselling repeaters of SC and adolescent infatuation; responses were ‘we are empathetic’ and ‘friends are helpful, but have a limit’; goals for self and reflection were helpful to stop SC; vulnerabilities were lack of skills and problems faced; and protective factors were good skills and family relations.
These novel findings contribute to the existing sparse literature and are useful for gaining a deeper understanding about and better management of SC.
AndoverM. S., MorrisB. W., WrenA., & BruzzeseM. E. (2012). The co-occurrence of non-suicidal self-injury and attempted suicide among adolescents: distinguishing risk factors and psychosocial correlates. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 6(1), 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1186/1753-2000-6-11
2.
ArmientoJ. S., HamzaC. A., & WilloughbyT. (2014). An examination of disclosure of nonsuicidal self-injury among University Students. Wiley Online Library, 24(6), 518–533. https://doi.org/10.1002/casp.2190
ByrneS., MorganS., FitzpatrickC., BoylanC., CrowleyS., GahanH., HowleyJ., StauntonD., & GuerinS. (2008). Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: A qualitative study exploring the needs of parents and carers. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13(4), 493–504. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104508096765
ChandlerA., MyersF., & PlattS. (2011). The construction of self-injury in the clinical literature: A sociological exploration. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 41(1), 98–109. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1943-278X.2010.00003.x
10.
CrouchW., & WrightJ. (2004). Deliberate self-harm at an adolescent unit: A qualitative investigation. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 9(2), 185–204. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104504041918
11.
FliegeH., LeeJ. R., GrimmA., & KlappB. F. (2009). Risk factors and correlates of deliberate self-harm behavior: A systematic review. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 66(6), 477–493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychores.2008.10.013
12.
FortuneS., SinclairJ., & HawtonK. (2008). Help-seeking before and after episodes of self-harm: A descriptive study in school pupils in England. BMC Public Health, 8. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-8-369
13.
GlassmanL. H., WeierichM. R., HooleyJ. M., DelibertoT. L., & NockM. K. (2007). Child maltreatment, non-suicidal self-injury, and the mediating role of self-criticism. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45(10), 2483–2490. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2007.04.002
14.
GulbasL. E., Hausmann-StabileC., de LucaS. M., TylerT. R., & ZayasL. H. (2015). An exploratory study of nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviors in adolescent latinas. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 85(4), 302–314. https://doi.org/10.1037/ort0000073
HawtonK., RodhamK., EvansE., & WeatherallR. (n.d.). Rapid responses topic collections deliberate self harm in adolescents: Self report survey in schools in England. Citeseer. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.325.7374.1207
17.
HawtonK., BergenH., CooperJ., TurnbullP., WatersK., NessJ., & KapurN. (2015). Suicide following self-harm: Findings from the multicentre study of self-harm in England, 2000–2012. Journal of Affective Disorders, 175, 147–151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.12.062
18.
HillK., & DallosR. (2012). Young people’s stories of self-harm: A narrative study. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 17(3), 459–475. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359104511423364
19.
KlinebergE., KellyM. J., StansfeldS. A., & BhuiK. S. (2013). How do adolescents talk about self-harm: A qualitative study of disclosure in an ethnically diverse urban population in England. BMC Public Health, 13(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-572
20.
LüdtkeJ., In-AlbonT., MichelC., & SchmidM. (2016). Predictors for DSM-5 nonsuicidal self-injury in female adolescent inpatients: The role of childhood maltreatment, alexithymia, and dissociation. Psychiatry Research, 239, 346–352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2016.02.026
21.
MachoianL. (2001). Cutting voices: Self-injury in three adolescent girls. Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 39(11), 22–29. https://doi.org/10.3928/0279-3695-20011101-13
22.
MarecekJ., & SenadheeraC. (2012). “I drank it to put an end to me”: Narrating girls’ suicide and self-harm in Sri Lanka. Contributions to Indian Sociology, 46(1–2), 53–82. https://doi.org/10.1177/006996671104600204
McDonaldG., O’BrienL., & JacksonD. (2007). Guilt and shame: Experiences of parents of self-harming adolescents. Journal of Child Health Care, 11(4), 298–310. https://doi.org/10.1177/1367493507082759
25.
MuehlenkampJ. J., ClaesL., QuigleyK., ProsserE., ClaesS., & JansD. (2013). Association of training on attitudes towards self-injuring clients across health professionals. Archives of Suicide Research, 17(4), 462–468. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2013.801815
OconnorR. C., RasmussenS., & HawtonK. (2014). Adolescent self-harm: A school-based study in Northern Ireland. Journal of Affective Disorders, 159, 46–52. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jad.2014.02.015
28.
OldershawA., RichardsC., SimicM., & SchmidtU. (2008). Parents’ perspectives on adolescent self-harm: Qualitative study. British Journal of Psychiatry, 193(2), 140–144. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045930
29.
PlenerP. L., SchumacherT. S., MunzL. M., & GroschwitzR. C. (2015). The longitudinal course of non-suicidal self-injury and deliberate self-harm: A systematic review of the literature. Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation, 2(1), 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40479-014-0024-3
RoweS. L., FrenchR. S., HendersonC., OugrinD., SladeM., & MoranP. (2014). Help-seeking behaviour and adolescent self-harm: A systematic review. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48(12), 1083–1095. https://doi.org/10.1177/0004867414555718
32.
SekarK., & KavithaP. (2015). Psychosocial problems among children in difficult circumstances. Artha—Journal of Social Sciences, 14(2), 53. https://doi.org/10.12724/ajss.33.4
33.
SerafiniG., CanepaG., AdavastroG., NebbiaJ., MurriM. B., ErbutoD., PocaiB., FiorilloA., PompiliM., FlouriE., & AmoreM. (2017). The relationship between childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury: A systematic review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 8(August), 149. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2017.00149
34.
SwannellS. v., MartinG. E., PageA., HaskingP., & St JohnN. J. (2014). Prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury in nonclinical samples: Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 44(3), 273–303. https://doi.org/10.1111/sltb.12070
WadmanR., ClarkeD., SayalK., VostanisP., ArmstrongM., HarroeC., MajumderP., & TownsendE. (2017a). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 22(13), 1631–1641. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316631405
37.
WadmanR., ClarkeD., SayalK., VostanisP., ArmstrongM., HarroeC., MajumderP., & TownsendE. (2017b). An interpretative phenomenological analysis of the experience of self-harm repetition and recovery in young adults. Journal of Health Psychology, 22(13), 1631–1641. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105316631405
38.
WhisenhuntJ., ChangC., BrackG., OrrJ., AdamsL., PaigeM., McDonaldC., & O’HaraC. (2014). Professional counselors’ conceptualizations of the relationship between suicide and self-injury. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 36(3), 263–282. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.36.3.gu7443803l0581u5
39.
WhitlockJ., EckenrodeJ., & SilvermanD. (2006). Self-injurious behaviors in a college population. Pediatrics, 117(6), 1939–1948. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2005-2543
40.
YatesT. M., CarlsonE. A., & EgelandB. (2008). A prospective study of child maltreatment and self-injurious behavior in a community sample. Development and Psychopathology, 20(2), 651–671. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0954579408000321
41.
YipK. S., NganM. Y., & LamI. (2003). Pattern of adolescent self-cutting in Hong Kong: Reports from school social workers. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 11(2), 135–155. https://doi.org/10.1080/02673843.2003.9747924
