Skip to main content

Lund University Publications

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

Self-reported nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and sex as self-injury (SASI) : Relationship to abuse, risk behaviors, trauma symptoms, self-esteem and attachment

Zetterqvist, Maria ; Svedin, Carl Göran ; Fredlund, Cecilia ; Priebe, Gisela LU ; Wadsby, Marie and Jonsson, Linda S. (2018) In Psychiatry Research 265. p.309-316
Abstract

This study focuses on a conceptually unexplored behavior among adolescents who report deliberately using sex as a means of self-injury. In a large high school-based sample (n = 5743), adolescents who engaged in sex as self-injury (SASI, n = 43) were compared to adolescents who reported direct nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI, n = 933) and those who reported both NSSI and SASI (n = 82). Results showed that significantly more adolescents with SASI had experience of penetrating sexual abuse, as well as more sexual partners compared to those with NSSI. The SASI group also had higher levels of self-reported trauma symptoms, such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress and sexual concerns compared to those with NSSI, suggesting a distinct... (More)

This study focuses on a conceptually unexplored behavior among adolescents who report deliberately using sex as a means of self-injury. In a large high school-based sample (n = 5743), adolescents who engaged in sex as self-injury (SASI, n = 43) were compared to adolescents who reported direct nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI, n = 933) and those who reported both NSSI and SASI (n = 82). Results showed that significantly more adolescents with SASI had experience of penetrating sexual abuse, as well as more sexual partners compared to those with NSSI. The SASI group also had higher levels of self-reported trauma symptoms, such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress and sexual concerns compared to those with NSSI, suggesting a distinct relationship between sexual abuse, trauma symptoms and engaging in sex as self-injury. There was no difference between the SASI and NSSI groups regarding experiences of emotional and physical abuse, self-esteem, parental care or overprotection or symptoms of depression, anxiety and anger. Adolescents who engaged in both NSSI + SASI stood out as a more severe and burdened group, with more experience of abuse, risk behaviors and impaired psychosocial health. Adolescents with traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse need to be assessed for SASI and vice versa.

(Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Adolescents, Nonsuicidal self-injury, Sex as self-injury, Sexual abuse
in
Psychiatry Research
volume
265
pages
8 pages
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • scopus:85047181598
  • pmid:29778052
ISSN
0165-1781
DOI
10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.013
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
c42b6fa7-120f-4754-b5ee-65a4ddb27aa7
date added to LUP
2018-05-31 14:59:49
date last changed
2024-01-14 21:06:47
@article{c42b6fa7-120f-4754-b5ee-65a4ddb27aa7,
  abstract     = {{<p>This study focuses on a conceptually unexplored behavior among adolescents who report deliberately using sex as a means of self-injury. In a large high school-based sample (n = 5743), adolescents who engaged in sex as self-injury (SASI, n = 43) were compared to adolescents who reported direct nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI, n = 933) and those who reported both NSSI and SASI (n = 82). Results showed that significantly more adolescents with SASI had experience of penetrating sexual abuse, as well as more sexual partners compared to those with NSSI. The SASI group also had higher levels of self-reported trauma symptoms, such as dissociation, posttraumatic stress and sexual concerns compared to those with NSSI, suggesting a distinct relationship between sexual abuse, trauma symptoms and engaging in sex as self-injury. There was no difference between the SASI and NSSI groups regarding experiences of emotional and physical abuse, self-esteem, parental care or overprotection or symptoms of depression, anxiety and anger. Adolescents who engaged in both NSSI + SASI stood out as a more severe and burdened group, with more experience of abuse, risk behaviors and impaired psychosocial health. Adolescents with traumatic experiences such as sexual abuse need to be assessed for SASI and vice versa.</p>}},
  author       = {{Zetterqvist, Maria and Svedin, Carl Göran and Fredlund, Cecilia and Priebe, Gisela and Wadsby, Marie and Jonsson, Linda S.}},
  issn         = {{0165-1781}},
  keywords     = {{Adolescents; Nonsuicidal self-injury; Sex as self-injury; Sexual abuse}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  pages        = {{309--316}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Psychiatry Research}},
  title        = {{Self-reported nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and sex as self-injury (SASI) : Relationship to abuse, risk behaviors, trauma symptoms, self-esteem and attachment}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.013}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.psychres.2018.05.013}},
  volume       = {{265}},
  year         = {{2018}},
}