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BMC Psychiatry
Published in: BMC Psychiatry 1/2018

Open Access 01-12-2018 | Research article

The impact of child maltreatment on non-suicidal self-injury: data from a representative sample of the general population

Authors: Rebecca C. Brown, Stefanie Heines, Andreas Witt, Elmar Braehler, Joerg M. Fegert, Daniela Harsch, Paul L. Plener

Published in: BMC Psychiatry | Issue 1/2018

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Abstract

Background

Child maltreatment is an identified risk factor for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI). The aim of the current study was to investigate effects of different types of maltreatment, and mediating effects of depression and anxiety on NSSI in the general population.

Methods

A representative sample of the German population, comprising N = 2498 participants (mean age = 48.4 years (SD = 18.2), 53.3% female) participated in this study. Child maltreatment was assessed using the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ),NSSI was assessed with a question on lifetime engagement in NSSI, depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2) and anxiety symptoms by the General Anxiety Disorder questionnaire (GAD-2).

Results

Lifetime prevalence of NSSI in this sample was 3.3, and 30.8% reported at least one type of child maltreatment. Participants in the NSSI group reported significantly more experiences of child maltreatment. Emotional abuse was endorsed by 72% of all participants with NSSI. A path analytic model demonstrated an unmediated direct effect of emotional neglect, a partially mediated effect of emotional abuse, and a fully mediated effect of sexual abuse and physical neglect by depression and anxiety on NSSI.

Conclusions

Especially emotional neglect and abuse seem to play a role in the etiology of NSSI above and beyond depression and anxiety, while sexual and physical abuse seem to have a rather indirect effect.
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Metadata
Title
The impact of child maltreatment on non-suicidal self-injury: data from a representative sample of the general population
Authors
Rebecca C. Brown
Stefanie Heines
Andreas Witt
Elmar Braehler
Joerg M. Fegert
Daniela Harsch
Paul L. Plener
Publication date
01-12-2018
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Psychiatry / Issue 1/2018
Electronic ISSN: 1471-244X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-018-1754-3

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