The relationship between depression and self-mutilation in adolescence

Abstract

The importance of the relationship between depression and self-mutilation in the adolescent population is becoming more apparent. Analysis of these two variables demonstrates that they are correlated with one another in the adolescent population. The present study examines the relationship between depression and self-mutilation. Two scales, the Beck Depression Inventory II (Beck, 1996) and the Self-Harm Survey (Conterio, Lader, & Bloom, 1998) were administered to participants and the scores were correlated to determine whether a relationship existed between the two variables. Participants were residents from a residential treatment center for adolescents. Data analysis using Pearson’s r correlation coefficients were used to determine if there was a positive correlation between depression and self-mutilation. The t-test for independent means was utilized to determine if there was a difference between gender and self-mutilation, age and self-mutilation, as well as length of stay in the residential treatment facility and self-mutilation. The means and standard deviations were also determined for these variables. Statistical differences were indicated based on these findings. Implications of this study as well as recommendations for future studies on depression and self-mutilation were discussed in detail.