rming the arteries.
Numerous studies in the literature have examined aspects of self-mutilating behavior among adolescents. For example, Haines and Williams (2003) tested the hypothesis that individuals who self-mutilate have deficient skills in coping and problem-solving that leaves them vulnerable to the adoption of self-mutilating as a coping strategy. The researchers tested the hypothesis using a sample of male incarcerated self-mutilators with comparisons made to non-mutilating prisoner and non-prisoner control groups. The results indicated that individuals who self-mutilate exhibited higher levels of depression and anxiety and lower levels of self-esteem, optimism about life, and coping behaviors than did non-mutilators.
Sullivan (2003) suggested that among adolescents, self-cutting may indicate the emergence of repressed feelings and signal an evolving desire to express and process those feelings. This same researcher noted that self-cutting is frequently a repeated behavior among adolescents who are often reluctant to commit to therapy in the beginning stages of the behavior. However, Sullivan (2003) stated that most self-cutting among adolescents is neither a suicide attempt nor an artifact of suicidal ideation. In fact, only 0.5 percent of self-cutters commit suicide.
Ross and Heath (2002) explored the frequency of self-mutilation in a community sample of adolescents using preliminary epidemiological data with a sample of high school students. A total of 440 students from either an urban or suburban high school were given a screening measure to assess for self-mutilation. Students indicating that they hurt themselves deliberately participated in a follow-up interview. It was found that 13.9 percent of all students reported having engaged in some self-mutilating behavior, with girls reporting significantly higher rates of the phenomenon than males (64 percent versus 36 percent respectively. Ross and Heath ...