Sociology
June 22, 2018
Photo: Dr. Martin Monto, Sociology (left); Dr. Nick McRee, Sociology (right)
According to a new study released this week in the American Journal of Public Health, this year 1 in 4 high school girls will deliberately injure themselves by methods as extreme as cutting themselves or burning their own skin.
Conducted by sociologists at the University of Portland, the study, the first of its kind to use weighted probability sampling, reveals significantly high levels of deliberate, non-suicidal self-injury among large, representative, non-clinical samples of U.S. high school students (n=64,671). Using Centers for Disease Control data from 11 states collected in 2015, the study shows that about 1 in 4 high school girls and about 1 in 10 high school boys deliberately hurt themselves without trying to kill themselves during the previous 12 months. Individual states had substantially different rates of self-injury, with boys ranging from 6.4% (Delaware) to 14.8% (Nevada) and girls from 17.7% (Delaware) to 30.8% (Idaho).
The study can be read here: https://tinyurl.com/ybrxk68b
Among the patterns the study revealed was that the behavior was more commonly reported among 14-year olds and diminished with age. Rates were higher among students identifying as Native American, Hispanic, or Whites than they were among those identifying as Asian or Black.
Consistent with other studies, adolescents were more likely to report deliberate self-injury if they noted being sad or thinking about or attempting suicide. Drug and alcohol use were also associated with self-injury, as was fighting, being electronically bullied, or having experienced forced sex.
The findings are timely, as public concern with adolescent mental health has grown. Additionally, though deliberate self-injury is different than suicide, persons who self-injure are also more likely to consider and attempt suicide.
The authors argue that self-injury among adolescents is so widespread that clinical and therapeutic interventions may be insufficient to address this public health problem. Since many other health risk behaviors are associated with self-injury, efforts to address the problem should be incorporated into broader efforts to address mental health among children and adolescents.
Researchers
Martin Monto, Ph.D. is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Portland, specializing in sexuality, gender, social psychology, and deviant behavior.
Nick McRee, Ph.D. is a Professor of Sociology at the University of Portland, specializing in adolescent development, crime, and deviant behavior.
Frank Deryck, M.A. initiated this study as an undergraduate at the University of Portland. His research specializes in mental health, resilience, and recovery from traumatic life events.
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