%0 Journal Article
%T The prevalence of self-cutting and other self-harm among 13- to 18-year-old Finnish adolescents
%J Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology
%D 2009
%A Laukkanen, Eila
%A Rissanen, Marja-Liisa
%A Honkalampi, Kirsi
%A Kylma, Jari
%A Tolmunen, Tommi
%A Hintikka, Jukka
%V 44
%N 1
%P 23-28
%X BACKGROUND: Deliberate self-harm has become more prevalent among adolescents. AIMS: To investigate the prevalence and the associated background factors of self-cutting and other self-harming behaviour. METHODS: The study sample included 4,205 adolescents aged 13-18 years. Background factors, social relationships, alcohol and substance abuse, self-harm and self-cutting were assessed by a structured questionnaire including the Youth Self Report and Beck Depression Inventory. RESULTS: The life-time prevalence of self-cutting was 11.5% and of other self-harm 10.2%, while the prevalence of current self-cutting was 1.8%. Self-cutting was associated with female gender and a very wide range of adverse psychosocial background variables. Parents living together were an independent protective factor. By contrast, there was no gender difference in the risk of other self-harm. Independent risk factors were depressive mood, somatic complaints, drug abuse, poor school performance and poor family relationships. No protective factors were found for other self-harm. CONCLUSIONS: During adolescence, self-cutting and other self-harm are common. Adolescents who have self-cutting or harm themselves have wide-ranging problems in their lives. The specific characteristics of these phenomena need further investigation. <p>Language: en</p>
%G en
%I Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group
%@ 0933-7954
%U http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0398-x