Self-inflicted bodily harm among victims of intimate-partner violence

✍ Scribed by Randy A. Sansone; Jamie Chu; Michael W. Wiederman

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 2007
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 94 KB
• Volume: 14
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1063-3995
• DOI: 10.1002/cpp.528

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

In this study, we surveyed 113 women psychiatric inpatients with regard to histories of intimate‐partner violence and six self‐harm behaviours related to the intentional damage of one's body (e.g., cutting, hitting, scratching self). Multiple regression analysis revealed that a history of domestic violence was a statistically significant predictor of bodily self‐harm even after controlling for age and having ever been married. Among some victims of domestic violence, this statistical relationship may indicate an underlying common psychodynamic theme such as a high threshold for body maltreatment and/or low body esteem. Regardless, these data suggest that mental health clinicians need to explore among women victims of intimate‐partner violence the presence of self‐initiated bodily self‐harm. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.