Characterizing gender differences in nonsuicidal self-injury: Evidence from a large clinical sample of adolescents and adults

• Published in: Comprehensive psychiatry Vol. 82; pp. 53 - 60
• Main Authors: Victor, Sarah E., Muehlenkamp, Jennifer J., Hayes, Nicole A., Lengel, Gregory J., Styer, Denise M., Washburn, Jason J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.04.2018; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Addictive behaviors; Adolescent; Adult; Aggressiveness; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Child psychology; Day Care, Medical - psychology; Day Care, Medical - trends; Deliberate self-harm; Female; Gender; Gender differences; Humans; Male; Nonsuicidal self-injury; Self destructive behavior; Self Report - standards; Self-Injurious Behavior - diagnosis; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Self-Injurious Behavior - therapy; Self-mutilation; Sex Characteristics; Suicide; Suicides & suicide attempts; Teenagers; Treatment; Young Adult; Young adults; Deliberate self-harm; Treatment; Gender; Suicide; Nonsuicidal self-injury; Self-mutilation
• ISSN: 0010-440X; 1532-8384
• DOI: 10.1016/j.comppsych.2018.01.009

While nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common in both men and women, research exploring the intersection of NSSI and gender has been limited by the use of small samples of males drawn primarily from non-clinical populations. To address these limitations, we analyzed data from a large sample of patients enrolled in an NSSI partial hospitalization program (PHP) to compare males and females across several variables, including NSSI characteristics, correlates, and pre-post treatment outcomes. Results indicated similar NSSI characteristics and treatment outcomes for males and females, with few exceptions. Males notably reported lower severity levels for most NSSI correlates (e.g., psychopathology, suicidality), highlighting the need to screen males for NSSI even when reporting comparatively less impairment. Finally, our results also suggest that PHP treatment for NSSI can be beneficial for both males and females. These findings have implications for the assessment, diagnosis, conceptualization, and treatment of NSSI in males and females. •Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) features are largely similar for males and females.•Males engaging in NSSI often report less psychopathology than females using NSSI.•Males and females appear to respond equally well to acute care treatment for NSSI.•These results have implications for screening, assessment, and treatment of NSSI.