@article{ref1,
title="Do young people who self-harm experience cognitions and emotions related to post-traumatic growth?",
journal="Journal of affective disorders reports",
year="2024",
author="Murray, Alexandra and Wadman, Ruth and Townsend, Ellen",
volume="15",
number="",
pages="e100683-e100683",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Adolescent self-harm is a vast public health concern with self-harm rates increasing each year. Looked-after adolescents are a group at increased risk of self-harm owing to adverse life-events and attachment issues, giving rise to difficulties with problem solving and relationship difficulties (Ogundele, 2020). Whilst research into risk factors of self-harm is plentiful, fewer studies have explored what factors might facilitate self-harm recovery. This paper investigates whether looked-after adolescents with experience of self-harm can experience cognitions and emotions related to post-traumatic growth (PTG). <br><br>METHODS: Secondary Data Analysis was conducted on a primary qualitative data set from a study including twenty-four looked-after young people aged between 14 and 21 with experience of self-harm; 20 females and 4 males. An Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis was conducted. <br><br>RESULTS: Five themes were identified, four of which shared similarities to prior research into the recovery of self-harm and manifestations of PTG: 1) Self-Reflection, 2) Communication, 3) Embracing and Appreciating Support, 4) Better Management of feelings. The fifth theme suggested a potential barrier to experiencing PTG; 5) Reliance on Self-Harm. <br><br>FINDINGS revealed four relevant themes suggesting that individuals who self-harm can indeed experience cognitions and emotions relevant to PTG. LIMITATIONS: This study utilised a homogeneous sample, limiting the generalisability of the findings to other populations. Perhaps future research should consider other populations of individuals who self-harm. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: We suggest there is a need for interventions for self-harm to focus on protective factors to increase PTG within an individual, potentially moderating the risk of suicide.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2666-9153",
doi="10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100683",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadr.2023.100683"
}