Pitman, Alexandra, Lowther, Millie, Pike, Alexandra orcid.org/0000-0003-1972-5530 et al. (4 more authors) (2023) The influence of peer non-suicidal self-harm on young adults' urges to self-harm:experimental study. Acta neuropsychiatrica. ISSN 1601-5215
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that exposure to peer self-harm induces adolescents' urges to self-harm, and that this is influenced by individual suggestibility. METHODS: We recruited 97 UK-based adults aged 18-25 years with a recent history of self-harm, measuring baseline suggestibility (Resistance to Peer Influence, RPI) and perceived ability to control urges to self-harm (using an adapted item from the Self-Efficacy to Resist Suicidal Action Scale; SEASA) before and after two self-harm vignettes featuring named peers from the participant's social network (to simulate exposure to peer non-suicidal self-harm) and after a wash-out exposure. We used paired t-tests to compare mean SEASA scores pre- and post-exposure, and linear regression to test for an association between RPI and change in SEASA scores pre- and post-exposure. RESULTS: Perceived ability to control urges to self-harm was significantly reduced following exposure to peer self-harm (t(96)= 4.02, p <0.001, mean difference=0.61; 95% CI=0.31, 0.91), but was not significantly different from baseline after exposure to a wash-out. We found no association between suggestibility and change in urges to self-harm after exposure to peer self-harm. CONCLUSION: Our findings support social influences on self-harm in a sample of young adults, regardless of their individual degree of suggestibility.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © The Author(s), 2023. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of York |
Academic Units: | The University of York > Faculty of Sciences (York) > Psychology (York) |
Depositing User: | Pure (York) |
Date Deposited: | 07 Dec 2023 13:50 |
Last Modified: | 07 Feb 2025 00:37 |
Published Version: | https://doi.org/10.1017/neu.2023.51 |
Status: | Published online |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1017/neu.2023.51 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:206358 |
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Description: The influence of peer non-suicidal self-harm on young adults’ urges to self-harm: experimental study
Licence: CC-BY 2.5