Högskolestudenters psykiska hälsa : Kartläggning av självskadebeteende

• Main Authors: Ahrens, Karolin, Engman, Sara
• Format: Others
• Language: Swedish
• Published: Högskolan i Kalmar, Humanvetenskapliga institutionen 2008
• Subjects: Adolescents; College population; Deliberate self-harm; Self-injurious behavior; Self-mutilation; Risk factors; Social work; Socialt arbete
• Online Access: http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hik:diva-249

Background: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of deliberate self-harm in a Swedish University population. Method: A random sample of first year students at University of Kalmar was invited to participate in an Internet-based survey in the autumn of 2007. A total of 139 (53,1 %) completed the anonymous survey. Results: The results showed that 25,2 % (n=35) of the students reported having engaged in some kind of deliberate self-harm at least once, and deliberate self-harm was endorsed by 7,9 % within the past year. The most frequently procedures to self-harm were to tear, carve or pinch self, cutting skin and hitting self on purpose. 37,1 % reported that they had told no one about their self-injurious behaviors and 36,4 % significantly reported that they had no one they trusted and who they could talk to if they were concerned about something. Students with self-injurious behavior were also more likely to report a history of emotional, sexual and/or physical abuse, alcohol and drug use, cut classes and questioning their sexual orientation. Conclusions: Findings suggest that self-harm is associated with risk factors and that self-injury is not only associated with adolescence but also with adulthood. It is therefore important to continue studies in both populations.