@article{ref1,
title="Why do adolescents self-harm?",
journal="Crisis",
year="2016",
author="Rasmussen, Susan and Hawton, Keith and Philpott-Morgan, Sion and O'Connor, Rory C.",
volume="37",
number="3",
pages="176-183",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Given the high rates of self-harm among adolescents, recent research has focused on a better understanding of the motives for the behavior. AIMS: The present study had three aims: to investigate (a) which motives are most frequently endorsed by adolescents who report self-harm; (b) whether motives reported at baseline predict repetition of self-harm over a 6-month period; and (c) whether self-harm motives differ between boys and girls. <br><br>METHOD: In all, 987 school pupils aged 14-16 years completed a lifestyle and coping questionnaire at two time points 6 months apart that recorded self-harm and the associated motives. <br><br>RESULTS: The motive &quot;to get relief from a terrible state of mind&quot; was the most commonly endorsed reason for self-harm (in boys and girls). Interpersonal reasons (e.g., &quot;to frighten someone&quot;) were least commonly endorsed. Regression analyses showed that adolescents who endorsed wanting to get relief from a terrible state of mind at baseline were significantly more likely to repeat self-harm at follow-up than those adolescents who did not cite this motive. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The results highlight the complex nature of self-harm. They have implications for mental health provision in educational settings, especially in relation to encouraging regulation of emotions and help-seeking.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0227-5910",
doi="10.1027/0227-5910/a000369",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000369"
}