Predicting Deliberate Self-Harm in Adolescents: a six Month Prospective Study

In this study, 737 Scottish pupils aged 15-16 years completed a lifestyle & coping survey at time 1 & 500 were followed up six months later. 6.2% of the respondents reported an act of deliberate self-harm between Time 1 & Time 2. In multivariate analyses, worries about sexual orientation, history of sexual abuse, family deliberate self-harm, anxiety, & self-esteem were associated with repeat deliberate self-harm during the course of the study, but history of sexual abuse was the only factor predictive of first-time deliberate self-harm. Finding suggest that school-based programs focused on how young people cope with psychosocial stressor may offer promise. (57 refs.)