@article{ref1,
title="A pilot study assessing sexual behavior as self-injury in college students",
journal="Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association",
year="2022",
author="Mellin, Julie E. and Young, Cara C.",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="OBJECTIVE: The use of sexual activity to self-injure has been proposed in research literature but remains underexplored. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of identifying sexual activity as self-injury in a U.S. college-based sample and to provide a preliminary examination of sexual activity as self-injury to inform future study on this topic. <br><br>METHOD: A cross-sectional descriptive pilot study was conducted to assess for recognition of and attitudes toward sexual behavior as self-injury and to identify participant-reported experiences of sexual activity to self-injure. <br><br>RESULTS: A total of 50 participants completed the online survey. Thirteen (26%) participants reported they had heard of the concept of &quot;sex as self-injury.&quot; Six (12%) participants reported ever having used sexual activity to cause physical or psychological harm to themselves. Participants reported intentions for engaging in sexual activity to self-injure, including causing physical pain, reliving past self-harm or trauma, showing vulnerability, proving self-worth, pleasing or wanting to feel needed by their partner, and suicidal ideation. <br><br>CONCLUSION: Sexual activities have been used by some college students as a means of self-harm. Further research is needed to understand this phenomenon and clinicians should consider screening for this in patients who participate in dangerous sexual behaviors or self-injurious behaviors.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1078-3903",
doi="10.1177/10783903221090531",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/10783903221090531"
}