Date of Award

5-4-2012

Degree Type

UG Dissertation

First Advisor

Dr. Cheung Yue Lok, Francis

Abstract

This study examines non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in a community sample of adolescents and young adults in Hong Kong and United Kingdom. Non-suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) refers to direct, deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue in the absence of intent to die. Apart from investigating the reasons and functions of non-suicidal self‐injury (NSSI), this study also examined the gender as well as cultural differences in self‐injurious behaviors. Functional Assessment of Self‐Mutilation (FASM) was used to examine non‐suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

Overall, 17.1% (n=46) out of 269 participants (n=269) endorsed engaging in non-suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in the past 12 months, with more females (9.7%) than males (7.1%). 18.2% (n = 49) of participants reported engagement in non-suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) at least once in their life time. Stresses and borderline personality disorders (BPD) were found to correlate with self‐harm behaviors. No cultural differences in self‐harm behaviors between Hong Kong and United Kingdom were shown. Meanwhile, no gender differences were shown in the types of self‐harm behaviors engaged and the reasons of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).

Recommended Citation

Wong, S. Y. C. (2012). A study of the reasons and functions of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among students in Hong Kong and United Kingdom (UG dissertation, Lingnan University, Hong Kong). Retrieved from http://commons.ln.edu.hk/socsci_fyp/2

Share

COinS