Self-injury in incarcerated juvenile females: Contributions of mental health and traumatic experiences

✍ Scribed by Larkin S. McReynolds; Gail A. Wasserman

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 2011
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 69 KB
• Volume: 24
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0894-9867
• DOI: 10.1002/jts.20699

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Despite evidence supporting a connection between child maltreatment and self‐injury, there is disagreement regarding a particular connection to sexual abuse because types of trauma exposure often co‐occur. To examine these associations efficiently, we considered a sample of incarcerated juvenile females, where rates of both trauma exposure and self‐injury would be expected to be elevated. Adolescent females (N = 220) reported on history of self‐injurious behavior on the Voiced Index of Self‐injurious Actions, as well as psychiatric disorder. A common set of features was associated with cutting and with self‐injury in general. Both were more likely in those initiating delinquent activities when younger and in those currently meeting criteria for major depressive disorder, or with a previous suicide attempt. Adjusting for those features, report of self‐injury was approximately doubled among those disclosing prior traumatic exposure that was sexual, OR = 2.66, 95% CI [1.38, 5.15], or nonsexual, OR = 2.18, 95% CI [1.17, 4.04]. Exposure to early traumatic events, such as child maltreatment, likely contributes to a set of adverse experiences, including delinquent activity, mood disorder, and self‐injury. Findings contribute to work demonstrating the importance of dissociation both as a consequence of victimization and as a key feature underlying self‐injurious behavior.