Publication
Title
Nonsuicidal self-injury and identity formation in Indian clinical and nonclinical samples : a comparative study
Author
Abstract
Background: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is being increasingly identified as an important emerging mental health issue in the West. Yet, NSSI has not been adequately studied in clinical and nonclinical contexts in countries like India. Aim: The aim of this study was to compare different features of NSSI between clinical and nonclinical samples in India. We also explored if the strength of the association between NSSI and disturbances in identity formation - a risk factor that can increase vulnerability to NSSI - was similar in the two samples mentioned above. Method: For the clinical sample, data regarding NSSI and identity formation were collected from 100 psychiatric patients (47.0% females, mean age = 34.76 years,SD = 12.76, 17-70 years) from an outpatient/inpatient psychiatric department of a large tertiary hospital in Mumbai, India. Nonclinical data were collected from 120 young adults studying in a medical college in Mumbai, India (51.7% females, mean age = 19.7 years,SD = 2.16, 17-28 years). Information regarding NSSI and identity were collected using self-report questionnaires. Results: Lifetime prevalence of NSSI in the clinical and nonclinical samples was found to be around 17% and 21%, respectively. Although the prevalence of NSSI did not significantly differ between the two samples, some features of NSSI did differ between the two groups. Finally, multigroup Bayesian structural equation modeling indicated that irrespective of the type of the sample (i.e. clinical or nonclinical), consolidated and disturbed identity significantly (negative and positive, respectively) predicted lifetime NSSI. Additionally, the association between the aforementioned identity variables and NSSI did not significantly differ between the two samples. Conclusion: The findings of these studies highlight the need for exploring issues related to identity formation in individuals who engage in NSSI irrespective of whether they suffer from a psychiatric disorder or not.
Language
English
Source (journal)
International journal of social psychiatry / State University of New York. Department of Anthropology and Psychiatry. - New York
Publication
London : Sage publications ltd , 2020
ISSN
0020-7640
DOI
10.1177/0020764020943618
Volume/pages
p. 1-8
Article Reference
0020764020943618
ISI
000550732800001
Pubmed ID
32686554
Medium
E-only publicatie
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 14.09.2020
Last edited 02.10.2024
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