NCJ Number
241185
Journal
Child Abuse & Neglect Volume: 36 Issue: 7-8 Dated: July/August 2012 Pages: 572-584
Date Published
August 2012
Length
13 pages
Annotation
This study investigated the association between child maltreatment and the subsequent development of non-suicidal self-injury.
Abstract
Findings from the study include the following: for females, the presence of physical abuse and neglect increased the odds of subsequent development to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI); among males, only the presence of physical abuse increased the odds for subsequent development of NSSI; for both males and females, the presence of sexual abuse did not increase the odds of subsequent development of NSSI; and for females, self-blame had the greatest effect on the child maltreatment-NSSI relationship, while dissociation had the greatest effect on the relationship for males. This study investigated the association between child maltreatment and the subsequent development of NSSI. Data for the study were obtained from interviews with 11,423 Australian adults on reported history of child maltreatment and reported 12-month NSSI. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the relationship between child maltreatment and later NSSI, and whether the presence of dissociation, alexithymia, and self-blame were potential mediators for the child maltreatment-NSSI relationship. The findings suggest that child maltreatment in general, and physical abuse in particular, is a strong indicator of subsequent development to NSSI. In addition, dissociation, self-blame, and alexithymia were found to mediating factors for females in this relationship, while dissociation and self-blame were found to be mediating factors for males in this relationship. Study limitations are discussed. Tables and references