Academic literature on the topic 'Self-destructive behaviour'

This research aims to find out the factors as well as the mechanism of young people’s self-destructive behaviour in Taiwan. The research employed a mixed methodology- both quantitative and qualitative research methods. In the quantitative study, a self-reported questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the individual and social factors that affected suicidality and self-harm among young people (N= 1043) aged 14-18. In the qualitative study, 20 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with professionals to find out the mechanism of self-destructive behaviour. The results show that females are more vulnerable to self-destructive behaviours than males, but male suicide attempt is increasing. Self-destructive behaviour is shaped by a range of social, cultural and individual factors. General mental health and beliefs about death are the two individual factors that are highly related to young people’s self-destructive behaviour. Better general health and positive belief about death indicate lower risk of self-destructive behaviour. Social factors such as family interaction, peer relationship, traditional value, economic optimism and social-political security are five important factors to affect young people’s self-destructive behaviour. Close and supportive family interactions help reduce the risk of self-destructive behaviour. However, closer peer relationship may increase the likelihood of self-destructive behaviour because of copycat behaviour, imitation or altruistic behaviour. Holding more traditional values, young people may result in bearing many pressures during the current economic recession period.

Thesis (MSc) -- Stellenbosch University, 2013.<br>ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Suicidal behaviour is a serious public health problem. Globally and in South Africa a gendered pattern of suicide rates has been observed, with males being more likely to kill themselves than females. To date little quantitative and qualitative research is available on young male suicidal behaviour in South Africa. This study investigated the attitudes, beliefs and myths young male students hold about suicidal behaviour. Thirteen male university students (ages 20 to 25 years; with and without a history of suicidal behaviour), who volunteered to take part in the present study in response to an email invitation, were interviewed. The attitudes, beliefs and myths identified from the qualitative data are grouped into four themes: 'Moral acceptability of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived causes and risk factors of suicidal behaviour', 'Perceived motives of suicidal behaviour', and 'Perceived prevention and protective factors of suicidal behaviour'. Besides these four themes, two underlying narratives are identified and discussed: (1) 'Apart or a part: Belonging and suicidal behaviour' is centred on the idea that perceiving oneself to be an integral part of a social system is protective against suicidal behaviour, while a thwarted sense of belonging increases vulnerability to suicidal behaviour. (2) 'Dying to be a man: (Re) negotiating masculinity and suicidal behaviour' is concerned with participants' views that men's relational position to hegemonic (socially most dominant) forms of masculinity is a factor in male suicidal behaviour. Participants regard hegemonic forms of masculinity to be both a part of the problem of suicidal behaviour and a potential solution to suicidal behaviour. These findings are interpreted through a social constructionist lens of gender as performance. Finally, implications of findings for future research, prevention and treatment are discussed.<br>AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Selfmoordgedrag is 'n ernstige openbare gesondheidsprobleem. Wêreldwyd en in Suid-Afrika is mans meer geneig as vrouens om selfmoord te pleeg. Tot op hede is daar min kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe navorsing beskikbaar van jong manlike selfmoordgedrag in Suid-Afrika. Hierdie studie ondersoek die houdings, oortuiging en mites oor selfmoordgedrag van jong manlike studente. Dertien manlike universiteitstudente (ouderdomme 20 tot 25 jaar, met en sonder 'n geskiedenis van selfmoordgedrag) het vrywillig aan die huidige studie deel geneem in reaksie op 'n e-pos uitnodiging. Die houdings, oortuiging en mites wat vanaf die kwalitatiewe data geïdentifiseer is, is in vier temas gegroepeer: 'Morele aanvaarbaarheid van selfmoordgedrag', 'Siening van die oorsake en risiko faktore van selfmoordgedrag', 'Waargenome motiewe van selfmoordgedrag', en 'Waargenome voorkoming en beskermende faktore van selfmoordgedrag'. Naas hierdie vier temas, is twee onderliggende temas geïdentifiseer en bespreeek: (1) 'Samehorigheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met die idee dat om 'n integrale deel van 'n sosiale sisteem te wees is beskermend teen selfmoordgedrag, terwyl 'n persepsie van isolasie tot selfmoordgedrag kan lei. (2) 'Onderhandeling van manlikheid en selfmoordgedrag' is gemoeid met die deelnemers se sienings dat mans se verhouding tot hegemoniese vorme (sosiaal mees dominante vorme) van manlikheid 'n faktor in manlike selfmoordgedrag is. Deelneemers beskou hegemoniese vorme van manlikheid as beide 'n deel van die probleem en 'n moontlike oplossing vir selfmoordgedrag. Hierdie bevindinge is geïnterpreteer deur middel van 'n sosiale konstruksionistiese lens van geslag as prestasie. Die implikasies van die bevindings vir toekomstige navorsing, voorkoming en behandeling word ten slotte bespreek.

The purpose of this study is to analyse and describe social work students’ view on a person with self-injurious behaviour and the following issues. The aim and focus is on the general depiction. The theoretical perspectives have been intersectionality and its focus on social constructivism, and gender perspectives. The method was semi-structured interviews with eight social work students at Linnaeus University Kalmar. The collected data was the social work students’ opinions and it was contrasted with the previous research and was analysed from the above perspectives. The main conclusion is that social work students’ view on a person with self-injurious behaviour generally not consistent with the previous research. Previous research says that a person with self-injurious behaviour generally is a young, blonde, normal female. The majority of the social work students say that a person with self-injurious behaviour is a depressed, young female with dark hair and dark clothes. The social work students focus more on why a person goes to such extremes and hurts themselves.

<p>Den här uppsatsen är en litteraturstudie som behandlar problemet självdestruktivitet ur ett sociologiskt perspektiv. Jag har valt detta för att det är ett aktuellt problem och det är intressant att se det ur en sociologisk synvinkel istället för en psykologisk som kanske är vanligare att inta. Vilka sociologiska faktorer kan spela in gällande detta problem? Den litteratur som har legat till bakgrund för studien behandlar vilka som skadar sig, varför de gör det och olika definitioner samt vilka avgränsningar som bör göras för att ringa in fenomenets innebörd. Att skära, bränna och slå sig själv visar på ett självdestruktivt beteende och en orsak kan vara depression eller ångest.</p><p>Problemställningen som jag sökte ett svar på löd: Vilka ungdomar är det som skadar sig och varför? I den teoretiska genomgången så ligger fokus på kategorierna modernitet, kropp och ungdom. Utifrån detta tas olika sociologiska begrepp upp och analyseras i diskussionsfasen. I undersökningen så har jag bl.a. kommit fram till att dagens konsumtionssamhälle samt individualiseringen är en sannolikt bidragande faktor till att vissa unga människor utvecklar ett självdestruktivt handlande.</p><br><p>This study is an attempt to adress the problem of self-destructive behaviour from a sociological point of view. I feel that this is an important isssue in contemporary society, and that a sociological perspecitve may have something to offer that the more common psychological perspective may miss out on. The literature upon which the study is based deals with questions such as: What definition of the problem is most suitable? What are the characteristics of self-destructive behaviour and why do people hurt themself deliberately?</p><p>The specific question I approached was: Who are the young people that hurt themselves and why? The theoretical framework focuses on modernity, body and youth, and I make use of sociological concepts in the discussion. Some of my conclusions were that the consumeristic society of today and the individualization could be relevant factors in developing a self-destructive pattern.</p>

<p>Self-destructive behaviour is a more and more occurring phenomenon in today’s society and there are mostly young girls who are affected by this behaviour. There are different explanations to why the phenomenon appears. The purpose of this research essay is to give a literature overview of the phenomenon of self-harming behaviour of young girls. Two research questions have been used to study this phenomenon; How can groups of friends contribute to reinforce an identity with the self-destructive behaviour among young girls? How can Internet contributes to reinforce an identity with the self- estructive behaviour among young girls? For the analysis this research essay uses the social constructive theoretical perspective. The method used in this study is based on systematic searching of relevant literature and research. The findings indicate that groups of friends and the Internet constitute a forum where young people can create and develop their own identity. Therefore these two components can also have an important role in developing an identity with the self-destructive behaviour among young girls especially when they have a tendency to seek help from one another.</p>

<h2>SYFTE</h2><p>Syftet med denna uppsats är att analysera hur kommunikations- och samspelsförmåga uttrycks över tid när en ung man på tidig utvecklingsnivå och med autism deltar i en dyad i sherbornebehandling. Frågeställningar:</p><ol><li>Hur utvecklas kommunikations- och samspelsförmåga över tid i behandlingssituationen? </li><li>Hur utvecklas kommunikations- och samspelsförmåga i hemmet respektive skolan under samma tidsperiod? </li></ol><h1> </h1><h2>METOD</h2><p>Denna pre-experimentella fallstudie rör en 18-årig man som under drygt ett år kom till habiliteringen för att delta i arton sherbornebehandlingar med en sjukgymnast med mångårig erfarenhet av sherbornemetodik. Sherborne är en rörelsemetodik där rörelser används för att utveckla rums- och kroppsmedvetenhet och skapa relationer till andra. Samtliga arton behandlingar videofilmades och data insamlades via observation. En detaljerad nedteckning av händelseförloppet i en videoinspelning i början av behandlingsperioden och en i slutet gjordes. Under arbetet med att analysera kommunikation och samspel i videoinspelningarna uppkom behovet av att komplettera Sherbornes samspelsskala med ett bedömningsmaterial för att kunna analysera kommunikation och samspel i detalj<em> </em>med <em>personer på tidig nivå</em>, ”Brandquists & Althoffs Samspelsskala: Analys av samspel med personer på tidig utvecklingsnivå - Sherborne”, bilaga 7. För att öka tillförlitligheten i resultatet inhämtades dels kommentarer från deltagande sjukgymnast och mannens förälder under det att de såg de båda videofilmerna, dels gjordes en översiktlig analys av tio övriga videoinspelningar från sherborneperioden. Förälder och lärare intervjuades före och efter behandlingsperioden om den unge mannens kommunikation och samspelsförmåga i hemmet och på skolan.</p><h2>RESULTAT</h2><p>Resultat visar på en positiv effekt på den unge mannens förmåga till kommunikation och samspel. Under sherborneperioden framkommer gradvis en förändring av hur mannen riktade sin uppmärksamhet: från att blicken var ”tom” eller att blicken svepte över rummet till att han allteftersom kroppsligen riktade sig mot sjukgymnasten och sökte blickkontakt. Sjukgymnasten anpassade sitt förhållningssätt för att få till stånd ett så bra samspel som möjligt. Från att hon i början var mer inlyssnande och använde beröring för att bekräfta hans reaktioner, till användandet av ett ökat verbalt inslag mot slutet. I slutet av perioden började den unge mannen ta egna initiativ till samspel genom att rikta sin hand mot sjukgymnasten. Även i hem och skola ökade hans intresse för omgivningen. Han tog initiativ till kommunikation (ett ökat antal handlingssekvenser) och var på gång att utveckla delad uppmärksamhet. Han började säga ifrån mer genom att använda sin röst. Det självskadande beteendet minskade både under sherbornebehandlingen och i hemmet. I övrigt märkte både förälder och sjukgymnast en ökad balans och stabilitet i hans kropp och en förbättrad rörelseförmåga i hans svaga högersida.</p><p> </p><h2>SLUTSATSER</h2><p>Fallstudien tyder på att sherbornemetodik kan ha bidragit till en positiv effekt på såväl kommunikation och samspelsförmåga som rörelseförmåga hos denne unge man på tidig utvecklingsnivå och med autism.</p><br><h2>INTRODUCTION</h2><p>Caregivers perceive many of difficulties in interaction with persons at a presymbolic stage. In Sherborne Developmental Movement the theoretical issue is that movement experiences developing body and spatial awareness contribute to awareness of self. This gaining of body mastery is fundamental to the awareness of others, the ability to relate to others.</p><p> </p><p>The aim of this study is to analyse how communication and interaction is expressed over a period of time as a young man in an early stage of language development (pre-intentional communication) and with autism participates in a dyad in SDM sessions. Research questions:1. How do communication and interaction skills develop over time in the SDM sessions? 2. How do communication and interaction skills develop at home and school during the same period?</p><h2>METHOD</h2><p>In this pre-experimental case study an 18-year-old man with profound autism spectrum disorder, a right-sided motor disorder and a severe language impairment is participating. Giving no responses in communication, caregivers rarely perceived successful interaction. He suddenly burst out in aggressive acts. Lasting over a year he participated in an intervention consisting of eighteen SDM sessions in a dyad with a physiotherapist, skilled in SDM, at Habilitation Centre. Sessions were based on a “caring” SDM-relationship and treatment focused on basic movements. All sessions were videotaped. Communication and interaction skills were thoroughly assessed at the first and last session. In the process of analysing data the SDM scale of type of relation had to be supplemented by scales showing abilities of communication and interaction of the leader and the participant. This scale named "Brandquists & Althoff Interaction Scale: Analysis of the interaction with individuals at an early stage of development - Sherborne”, was used in reporting the data obtained in the study.</p><p>To increase the reliability of the data, comments from the participating physiotherapist and the father of the young man were registered while they individually watched the two video recordings. A somewhat simplified examination of ten of the video recordings was also made. Communication and interaction skills were also investigated at home and school through interviews and questionnaires before and after the SDM treatment. These data were then to be compare to the data of the SDM sessions.</p><p> </p><h2>RESULTS</h2><p>Results show a positive effect on communication and interaction skills of the young man. During the period of sessions he gradually changed the way of directing attention. Initially his eyes were "empty" or his gaze swept across the room to him. Later he focused on the hands of the physiotherapist while rocking his leg and eventually he physically directed himself to the physiotherapist and searched eye contact. The physiotherapist was sensitive to his physical reactions adapting her approach in order to making him feel secure and achieve trust. In the beginning she used tactile methods in her communication, but seeing he felt more secure she introduced more verbal confirming towards the end.  At the end of the period he began to take communicative initiatives by approaching his hand and “pointing” at the physiotherapist.</p><p> </p><p>At home and school caregivers reported an increasing interest in the environment. He used more initiative for communication (an increased number of action sequences) and was on his way to develop joint attention. He started to use his voice to protest. The number of self-destructive behaviours decreased during the Sherborne sessions and at home. Successively he gained greater stability and balance in his body and the mobility of the weak side improved. The data obtained in interviews with caregivers confirmed the results achieved in the study and strengthened the reliability of the results of SDM.</p><h2>CONCLUSIONS</h2><p>The result of the study implies that SDM may have contributed to a positive effect on the communication and interaction skills of this young man.</p>

Tidigare studier har visat på att i varje missbrukares liv, finns cirka fem anhöriga som riskerar att utveckla medberoende. Riskfaktorerna associerade med medberoende påverkar därför förekomsten av psykiska ohälsa och ökar risken för att utveckla andra sjukdomar såsom depression, ångest och känslomässiga problem. Syftet med studien var att undersöka hur medberoende i nära relationer kan utveckla självdestruktivt beteende och psykisk ohälsa. Med hjälp av en kvalitativ metod och intervjuer som datainsamlingsmetod blev syftet med denna studie genomförd. Studien grundades på semistrukturerade intervjuer där totalt sex informanter deltog. Resultatet i studien visade på liknande resultat genom alla intervjuer, såsom förekomsten av psykiska sjukdomar, självdestruktivt beteende och vikten av introjektiv identifikation. Dessa tre kategorier kompletterar varandra i den skrivna ordningen. Resultatet tyder på att det kan vara så att den medberoende inte kan utveckla psykisk ohälsa utan fenomenet introjektiv identifikation och självdestruktivt beteende. För att det ska utvecklas någon form av psykisk ohälsa skulle den medberoende personen behöva utveckla ett självdestruktivt beteende, och resultatet tyder på att det inte är möjligt utan introjektiv identifiering i kontexten nära relationer. Dock med hjälp av anknytningsteorin och coping-strategin, visade slutsatsen att inte alla medberoende utvecklade psykisk ohälsa. Förekomsten av psykisk ohälsa påverkas av individens tidiga anknytningsmönster och copingförmåga. Studien ledde till slutsatsen att psykisk ohälsa är ett stort problem bland individer med medberoende. Medberoende är inte fastställt som en sjukdom, trots att risken för att eventuellt utveckla psykisk ohälsa finns. Trots de följdsjukdomar som medberoende medför är det ingen prioritering inom folkhälsopolitiken.<br>Previous studies have shown that in every drug addicted person’s life there is about five relatives which risks developing co-dependency. Therefore, the riskfactors affect the relative’s mental health and increase the risk of developing other illnesses such as depression, anxiety and emotional issues. The aim of the study was to investigate how co-dependency in close relationships can develop self-destructive behavior and mental illness. With the use of a qualitative method and interviews as a data collecting method, the aim for this study became fulfilled. The study was based on semi-structured interviews, performed by six participants. The results showed similar outcomes for all interviews, such as the prevalence for mental illness, self-destructive behaviour and the importance of introjective identification. These three categories complement each other in the order written. The results indicates that a co-dependent individual could not, without the phenomenon introjective identification and self-destructive behaviour acquire mental illness. However in order to acquire some kind of mental illness the co-dependent person would have to develop self-destructive behaviour, and the results showed that it is not possible without introjective identification in the context of a close relationship. Although, with the use of attachment theory and coping-strategy, the conclusion showed that not every co-dependent developed mental illness. The prevalence of illnesses was affected by the individuals early life attachment-pattern and coping skills. The study led to a conclusion that mental illness is a big issue among co-dependent individuals. Co-dependency is not a determined as a disease, despite the risk of possibly developing mental illness. It is still not a prioritization among public health authorities.

[Truncated abstract]The overall aim of the research reported in this thesis was to develop and validate an instrument that would identify children among the general population at risk of self-harm. To achieve this, four separate yet interrelated studies were conducted. Study One, which sought to explore the risk factors of self-harm in children comprised a series of focus interviews with three paediatricians and 24 mothers of children who had self-harmed or who had verbalized self-harm ideation. The findings revealed that prior to the onset of self-harming or self-harm ideation these children reportedly manifested other problem behaviours that prompted their mothers to seek specialist advice from a paediatrician. The majority of these problem behaviours were characteristic of externalizing problems, either in the form of conduct problems, aggressive behaviours or impulsiveness. Conversely, some problem behaviours were characteristic of internalizing problems such as anxiety and depression. These findings provided valuable information which in addition to the current literature created the conceptual framework for the subsequent studies. Study Two incorporated the information obtained from Study One, along with that obtained from a review of existing instruments that measure self-harm or suicide, to develop a new instrument specifically designed to assess the risk of children in the general population developing self-harming behaviours. Initially, 159 items were generated and using the extant knowledge regarding the risk factors of self-harm as a guide, the items were categorized into risk factors of anxiety, depression, low self- ii worth, social difficulty, social withdrawal, helplessness, hopelessness, atypical cognition, emotional lability, impulsivity, self-harming ideation and self-harm. ... Study Four comprised four interrelated investigations, the purposes of which were to (i) examine the prevalence rates of self-harming ideation and self-harm among young school aged children in the general population; (ii) investigate differences of risk of self-harm between the referred group and community comparison group; (iii) examine the relationship between impulsivity and risk of self-harm in these children and, (iv) examine the relationship between executive function and risk of self-harm among these children. The results from these investigations revealed that approximately 3.5% of children aged between 6 to12 years in the general population manifest self-harming ideations and approximately 2.5% actually self-harm. No significant age or gender differences were found. Children that presented with a higher level of risk of self-harm also presented with a complex array of internalizing and externalizing problem behaviours. Furthermore, children who displayed significantly higher levels of hyperactive-impulsive symptomatology scored higher on the SHRAC instrument, as did the children who had higher levels of executive functioning impairment. The findings are discussed and interpreted in line with the current research literature and are used to make suggestions for future research.