@article{ref1,
title="Investigating self-concept in self-harm: a repertory grid study",
journal="Psychology and psychotherapy",
year="2020",
author="Taylor, Peter J. and Usher, Sunny and Jomar, Khowla and Forrester, Rebecca",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVES: The way that individuals perceive themselves and others may be relevant in understanding difficulties with self-harm. Repertory grids provide a relatively underutilized means of investigating self-concept in people who self-harm. This study aimed to examine the association between self-concept, captured through a repertory grid method, and self-harm. <br><br>METHOD: Ninety-eight participants with a history of self-harm took part in the study. A repertory grid was used to derive distances between four elements ('current self', 'ideal self', 'self-harming self', and 'others who self-harm'). Associations between these distances and measures of self-harm behaviour, well-being and perceived recovery, were estimated. <br><br>RESULTS: Repertory grid distances were significantly associated with self-harm. When adjusting for covariates, self-harm in the past year was positively associated with a greater distance (or less perceived similarity) between current and ideal self, and a smaller distance (greater perceived similarity) between current self and others who self-harm. Repertory grid distances were also associated with well-being and perceived recovery. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results are consistent with the idea that self-perception is associated with self-harm and related difficulties. The results also highlight the potential utility of repertory grids as a tool for exploring self-concept. The cross-sectional nature of the study precludes inferences about directionality or the temporal characteristics of associations. PRACTITIONER POINTS: More recent experiences of self-harm may be reflected in the way individuals perceive or construe themselves. The way in which individuals who self-harm perceive or construe themselves may also be related to their current well-being and perceived recovery. Repertory grids may be a useful tool in clinical practice for investigating self-concept in those who self-harm. Repertory grids may provide a more idiographic, clinical outcome assessment in those who self-harm.<br><br>© 2020 The British Psychological Society.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1476-0835",
doi="10.1111/papt.12269",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/papt.12269"
}