Back to Search
Start Over
Characteristics and predictors of self-mutilation: a study of incarcerated women.
- Source :
-
Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health . Dec2007, Vol. 17 Issue 5, p312-321. 10p. 4 Charts. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Background Research on self-mutilating behaviour and incarcerated adults has found that nearly 50% of people in prison participated in it (Holley and Alborleda-Florez, 1988). This is an enormous liability for the criminal justice system as well as a human concern. Aims/hypotheses The research question for this study was to explore whether a history of childhood abuse in a sample of incarcerated women would increase their likelihood of self-mutilation. Methods Participants were 256 female inmates from five prisons in a large southern state who volunteered to attend a 12-week trauma and abuse psychosocial intervention group. The participants were evaluated for childhood abuse, criminal history, risk-taking behaviour and self-mutilation. Data are presented regarding individual, criminal, abuse, family and risk-taking behaviours comparing self-mutilators (n = 109) with non-self-mutilators (n = 147). Results The self-mutilation group was more likely to report higher rates of emotional, sexual and physical abuse and on clinical significance scales of anxiety, depression, dissociation, impaired self-reference, anger, tension reduction and intrusive experiences. The self-mutilation group was also younger and was more often Caucasian. The results of the regression model suggest that a history of suicide attempts, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, bingeing and vomiting and impaired self-reference are predictors of self-mutilation. Conclusions/implications for practice Recommendations and implications for practice are discussed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 09579664
- Volume :
- 17
- Issue :
- 5
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Criminal Behaviour & Mental Health
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 27558471
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.665