Abstract
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.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Subject
Biological Psychiatry,Psychiatry and Mental health
Cited by
1 articles.
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