Self-Mutilation and Homeless Youth: the Role of Family Abuse, Street Experiences, and Mental Disorders
Description:
Self-mutilation, which is the act of deliberately harming oneself, has been overlooked in studies of homeless & runaway youth. Given their high rates of abuse & mental health disorders, which are associated with self-mutilation, homeless & runaway youth provide an ideal sample in which to investigate factors associated with self-mutilation among a nonclinical population. Based on interviews with 428 homeless & runaway youth aged 16 to 19 years in 4 Midwestern states, the current study revealed widespread prevalence of self-mutilation among these young people. Multivariate analyses indicated that sexual abuse, ever having stayed on the street, deviant subsistence strategies, & meeting diagnostic criteria for depression were positively associated with self-mutilation. The findings are interpreted using stress theory & affect-regulation models. 3 Tables, 43 References. Adapted from the source document.
Type of Resource:
Journal
Publication Date:
2003
Volume:
13
Issue:
4
Pages:
457-474
Location:
Lincoln