Association Between Deliberate Self-Harm and Coping in Adolescents: A Critical Review of the Last 10 Years' Literature

• Published in: Archives of suicide research Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 91 - 105
• Main Authors: Guerreiro, Diogo F., Cruz, Diana, Frasquilho, Diana, Santos, José C., Figueira, Maria L., Sampaio, Daniel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Taylor & Francis Group 01.04.2013; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; adolescence and coping; Adolescent; Adolescent Behavior - psychology; Adolescents; Causality; Child & adolescent psychiatry; Consensus; Coping; Coping style; Cross-sectional analysis; deliberate self-harm; Emotions; Female; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Male; Methodology; non-suicidal self-injury; Quality of Life; Self Concept; Self destructive behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - prevention & control; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Selfinjury; Severity of Illness Index; Suicide; suicide attempts; Suicides & suicide attempts; Survival strategy; Teenagers
• ISSN: 1381-1118; 1543-6136; 1543-6136
• DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2013.776439

Coping is commonly associated with deliberate self-harm (DSH) in adolescents. This article reviews the published literature from 2000 to 2010, aiming to highlight the current evidence supporting this association. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria, a total sample of 24,702 subjects was obtained and 17% were DSH cases. Emotion-focused coping style and in particular avoidant coping strategies have consistently been associated with DSH in adolescents. Problem-focused coping style seems to have a negative relation. Most studies were cross-sectional, which seriously limits our conclusions on causality. There is a clear need for more systematic studies, performed in accordance with consensual methodology.