Abstract
The objective of this study was to describe deliberate self-harming (DSH) characteristics in a child-welfare population identified
as having threatened or completed self-harm. Secondary data from 621 serious occurrence reports (SOR) that documented 2004–2007
DSH incidents and DSH threats with 252 Canadian youth in care (Y-INC) of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAS-T) was
analyzed. In addition to descriptive analysis, a clustered design binary logistic regression was employed to determine factors
associated with DSH characteristics such as repetition, reported behaviour, and severity. Y-INC males (n = 140) made up a slight majority in both DSH categories: single incident of self-harm (sDSH) vs. repeat incidents (rDSH)
(55.4% and 56.0% respectively); the female Y-INC sample (n=112) was responsible for the majority of rDSH incidents (69.1%).
Most DSH incidents took place between 6 pm to 12 am, Monday to Friday. Factors found to be associated with DSH in an in-care
population of DSH youth were: non-permanent status (non-Crown wards were more likely to self-harm vs. threaten self-harm compared to permanent/Crown wards(OR 2.46, CI 1.26–4.80);
older Y-INC (age 14–21) were more likely to receive medical attention due to a DSH incident vs. 6–13 year olds (OR 4.26, CI 2.51–7.21);
and female Y-INC were found more likely to have repeat DSH incidents (OR 2.55, CI 1.08–6.02). In addition to heightened supervision and resources
for Y-INC that are at-risk for or engage in DSH, greater research attention to this issue is warranted.
as having threatened or completed self-harm. Secondary data from 621 serious occurrence reports (SOR) that documented 2004–2007
DSH incidents and DSH threats with 252 Canadian youth in care (Y-INC) of the Children’s Aid Society of Toronto (CAS-T) was
analyzed. In addition to descriptive analysis, a clustered design binary logistic regression was employed to determine factors
associated with DSH characteristics such as repetition, reported behaviour, and severity. Y-INC males (n = 140) made up a slight majority in both DSH categories: single incident of self-harm (sDSH) vs. repeat incidents (rDSH)
(55.4% and 56.0% respectively); the female Y-INC sample (n=112) was responsible for the majority of rDSH incidents (69.1%).
Most DSH incidents took place between 6 pm to 12 am, Monday to Friday. Factors found to be associated with DSH in an in-care
population of DSH youth were: non-permanent status (non-Crown wards were more likely to self-harm vs. threaten self-harm compared to permanent/Crown wards(OR 2.46, CI 1.26–4.80);
older Y-INC (age 14–21) were more likely to receive medical attention due to a DSH incident vs. 6–13 year olds (OR 4.26, CI 2.51–7.21);
and female Y-INC were found more likely to have repeat DSH incidents (OR 2.55, CI 1.08–6.02). In addition to heightened supervision and resources
for Y-INC that are at-risk for or engage in DSH, greater research attention to this issue is warranted.
- Content Type Journal Article
- Pages 1-14
- DOI 10.1007/s11469-011-9361-2
- Authors
- Jeffrey Grenville, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Bethune College Rm. 337, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 3P1
- Deborah Goodman, Children’s Aid Society of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Alison K. Macpherson, School of Kinesiology and Health Science, York University, Bethune College Rm. 337, 4700 Keele Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 3P1
- Journal International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Online ISSN 1557-1882
- Print ISSN 1557-1874