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- Title
A Pilot Study Assessing Sexual Behavior as Self-Injury in College Students.
- Authors
Mellin, Julie E.; Young, Cara C.
- Abstract
Objective: The use of sexual activity to self-injure has been proposed in research literature but remains underexplored. The purpose of this pilot study was to determine the feasibility of identifying sexual activity as self-injury in a U.S. college-based sample and to provide a preliminary examination of sexual activity as self-injury to inform future study on this topic. Method: A cross-sectional descriptive pilot study was conducted to assess for recognition of and attitudes toward sexual behavior as self-injury and to identify participant-reported experiences of sexual activity to self-injure. Results: A total of 50 participants completed the online survey. Thirteen (26%) participants reported they had heard of the concept of "sex as self-injury." Six (12%) participants reported ever having used sexual activity to cause physical or psychological harm to themselves. Participants reported intentions for engaging in sexual activity to self-injure, including causing physical pain, reliving past self-harm or trauma, showing vulnerability, proving self-worth, pleasing or wanting to feel needed by their partner, and suicidal ideation. Conclusion: Sexual activities have been used by some college students as a means of self-harm. Further research is needed to understand this phenomenon and clinicians should consider screening for this in patients who participate in dangerous sexual behaviors or self-injurious behaviors.
- Subjects
UNITED States; RISK assessment; CROSS-sectional method; SUICIDAL ideation; QUALITATIVE research; HUMAN sexuality; PILOT projects; ATTITUDES toward sex; DESCRIPTIVE statistics; SEX customs; SELF-mutilation; EMOTIONAL trauma; RESEARCH methodology; PAIN; COLLEGE students; STUDENT attitudes; PSYCHOLOGICAL vulnerability
- Publication
Journal of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, 2024, Vol 30, Issue 2, p409
- ISSN
1078-3903
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/10783903221090531