Non suicidal self injury: Methods, functions and psychosocial functioning of Filipino youth who self injure, eight cases

• Main Author: Capay, Abigaile Rose Mary Rangasajo
• Format: text
• Language: English
• Published: Animo Repository 2012
• Subjects: Self-injurious behavior—Philippines; Self-injurious behavior in adolescence—Philippines
• Online Access: https://animorepository.dlsu.edu.ph/etd_masteral/6857
• Institution: De La Salle University

Using multiple case studies, this qualitative research study looked into the psychosocial functioning of eight Filipino adolescents and young adults who engage in non-suicidal self injury (NSSI) to uncover the different personality profiles, affective behavioral, cognitive and social dimensions of their psychosocial functioning that may explain the behavior. The different methods and functions of NSSI were likewise investigated in this study. Using a purposive sampling technique, eight respondents with ages ranging from 14 to 24 years old were asked to participate in an in-depth interview about their family and personal history, emotional adjustment and their experiences with self injury. They were made to answer a clinical inventory as well. The findings of this study resulted from an intensive case analysis of the eight participants’ data, prior to doing a cross case analysis. Interview data was processed through a qualitative content analysis to identify emerging themes from the transcription of the interviews. The participants’ non-suicidal self injurious behaviors include cutting or carving skin, banging the head and other body parts to inanimate objects, pinching, scratching, pricking or inserting sharp objects to the skin, hair pulling, swallowing chemicals and jumping off a height. NSSI behaviors are primarily used as a maladaptive coping style that serves the following functions: as an expression of negative emotions, to elicit positive feelings, translate emotional pain to physical pain, as a form of escape and a form of rebellion. In addition, NSSI behaviors serve as self punishment and as an alternative to suicide. NSSI is associated with the MACI clinical syndrome scales of depressive affect, suicidal tendency, substance abuse and impulsive propensity. Self injuring Filipino youth also scored significantly in expressed concerns such as family discord, identity diffusion, self devaluation, body disapproval, peer insecurity and childhood abuse. The findings of this study further revealed that emotionally, self injurers have the tendency to feel depressed, be highly labile in mood as well as have difficulty in emotion regulation. Behaviorally, they have difficulty with impulse control, engage in risky behaviors, are characterized by violent tendencies and utilize both positive and inadequate coping behaviors. Cognitively, they tend to have a negative or ambivalent self perception, negative body image and high self expectations. They are prone to negative thinking but some also experience insight about non-suicidal self injury. Lastly, they have the tendency to be affected by interpersonal conflicts, experiences of physical, verbal and sexual abuse, social influence and limited social support.