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Self‐Mutilation and Coping Strategies in a College Sample
Author(s) -
Andover Margaret S.,
Pepper Carolyn M.,
Gibb Brandon E.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1521/suli.2007.37.2.238
Subject(s) - coping (psychology) , psychology , avoidance coping , distress , clinical psychology , self control , social support , psychological distress , help seeking , social psychology , developmental psychology , psychotherapist , mental health
The goal of this study was to examine the use of specific coping strategies among self‐mutilating college students. The self‐mutilating group ( n = 44) reported utilizing avoidance strategies more often than did a control group ( n = 44) matched for general psychological distress but with no history of self‐mutilation. In addition, female, but not male, self‐mutilators endorsed using problem‐solving and social support seeking strategies less often than nonmutilators. These findings suggest that coping strategies in general and avoidance‐based strategies in particular may be important targets for the treatment of self‐mutilative behaviors.