Nicht-suizidales selbstverletzendes Verhalten (NSSV) von Schülerinnen und Schülern der 9. Klasse im Kreis Marburg-Biedenkopf unter besonderer Beachtung der Resilienz

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has increasingly gained attention during the past ten years (Whitlock 2009). There have already been many studies investigating the causes and the risk-factors (e.g. trauma, depression) of NSSI (Garrison et al. 1993; Herpertz 1995; Skegg 2005; Jacobson & Gould 2007; Csorba et al. 2009; Plener 2009). To date, few studies have investigated the protective factors that prevent NSSI (Klonsy & Glenn 2008). The two aims of this study are to firstly, assess the prevalence rates and characteristics of NSSI and secondly, to examine resilience as a protective factor. Six schools agreed to participate in the study. 517 out of 709 ninth graders (13-17 y/o) voluntarily and anonymously filled in the questionnaire. Data was assessed using the German-translation (Fliege et al. 2006) of the Self- Harm Behavior Questionnaire (SHBQ, Gutierrez et al. 2001), the Modified Ottawa/Ulm Self-Harm Inventory (MOUSI, Plener 2009), the German-translation (Schumacher et al. 2005) of the Resilience-Scale-25 (Wagnild & Young 1993) and the Allgemeine Depressionskala (Hautzinger & Bailer 1993). Furthermore, there were questions regarding age, gender and type of school. 116 pupils submitted that they had injured themselves at least once in their lifetime. 52 Pupils reported four or more self-injurious events. The average age for the first self-injurious incident was 13.00 years (SD 1.75). Females reported a higher overall prevalence (χ²=23.56, p<.001), 6-month prevalence (χ²=35.42, p<.001) and 1-month prevalence (χ²=15.49, p=.001). The most common method of NSSI was wrist-cutting. Pupils who reported NSSI were more likely to have lower levels of resilience (126.45 vs. 140.60; t=7.93, p<.001) and pupils with lower levels of resilience were more likely to report NSSI (43.4% vs. 10.7%). Furthermore, NSSI was associated with a higher level of depression (12.17 vs. 27.57, t=-14.73, p<.001). Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among teenagers is a phenomenon with high prevalence rates. It correlates with lower levels of resilience and higher levels of depression. Further research of protective factors by means of longitudinal studies will contribute to improving treatment and prevention of NSSI.