Prevalence and Correlates of Self-Injury Among University Students
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The authors' purpose in this research was to establish estimates of the prevalence and correlates of nonsuicidal self-injury among university students. PARTICIPANTS: The authors recruited participants (N = 2,843) from a random sample of 5,021 undergraduate and graduate students attending a large midwestern public university. METHODS: Using an Internet-based survey, the authors measured the prevalence of self-injury and potential risk factors, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal thoughts, and negative health behaviors. RESULTS: Seven percent of students reported any self-injury over the previous 4 weeks. Factors associated with a significantly higher likelihood (p <.05) of self-injury included cigarette smoking, concurrent depressive and anxiety disorders, and for men, growing up in a family of low socioeconomic status and having symptoms of eating disorders. Only 26% of those who reported self-injury received mental health therapy or medication in the previous year. CONCLUSIONS: Students who harm themselves experience high anxiety and distress, yet are unlikely to seek help.
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The data corroborates the association between depression, anxiety and self-injury.
“the data corroborates the association between depression, anxiety and self-injury [73, 93–101]”
From A 'choice', an 'addiction', a way 'out of the lost': Exploring self-injury in autistic people without intellectual disability (2019) · cites this paper as [97]
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- Authors
- Gollust, S. E., Eisenberg, D., & Golberstein, E.
- Affiliations
- University of Michigan (US)
- Venue
- Journal of American College Health
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2008-03-01
- Volume
- 56
- Issue
- 5
- Pages
- 491-498
- ISSN
- 0164-4300 (ISSN-L)
- 0744-8481
- 1940-3208
- OpenAlex
- W2021692434
- Cited by
- 282
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 12 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 60 · 2020: 21 · 2019: 19 · 2018: 12 · 2017: 15 · 2016: 16 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 19 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 12
- FWCI
- 10.43
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of American College Health (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Keywords
- non-suicidal self-injury, university students, prevalence, risk factors, depression, anxiety, eating disorders, suicidal ideation, cigarette smoking, family socioeconomic status, help-seeking, psychotherapy
- MeSH terms
- Female, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Mental Health Services, Risk Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Students, Universities, Health Behavior, Prevalence, Self-Injurious Behavior, Substance-Related Disorders
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