Self-harm is frequently described as an experience of depersonalization or a dissociative state.Antai-Otong, D. 2008. Psychiatric Nursing: Biological and Behavioral Concepts. 2nd edition. Canada: Thompson Delmar Learning Abuse during childhood is accepted as a primary social factor increasing the incidence of self-harm, as is bereavement, and troubled parental or partner relationships. Factors such as war, poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse may also contribute. Other predictors of self-harm and suicidal behavior include feelings of entrapment, defeat, lack of belonging, and perceiving oneself as a burden along with having an impulsive personality and/or less effective social problem-solving skills. Two studies have indicated that self-harm correlates more with pubertal phase, particularly the end of puberty (peaking around 15 for girls), rather than with age. Adolescents may be more vulnerable neurodevelopmentally in this time, and more vulnerable to social pressures, with depression, alcohol abuse, and sexual activity as independent contributing factors. and , citing . ("the incidence of suicidal behaviours varies seasonally and increases rapidly at this age (e.g. puberty effects)"), citing . Transgender adolescents are significantly more likely to engage in self-harm than their cisgender peers. This can be attributed to distress caused by gender dysphoria as well as increased likelihoods of experiencing bullying, abuse, and mental illness.
SelF-haRM Is fREqUenTlY descRIbed aS AN expERiEnCe of dEPeRsONalizatIoN or a dissOCiAtive staTe.aNtAi-OtOng, d. 2008. PsYcHiatrIc nurSinG: biolOgICal aND BeHAviorAl concEPts. 2Nd edItioN. canada: thompSOn dELmar LearniNg abuSe durIng childhood is accepted AS a PrimARY social fActOr inCreasinG ThE INcidenCe of self-Harm, as iS bEreaveMeNT, And tROuBLed parental Or pArTner RelatIonsHips. faCTors such as wAr, poveRtY, UNemployment, anD suBsTAncE abuse MAY alsO CoNtriBute. other preDICtorS Of selF-haRm And SuiciDal behavioR include FeeLInGs of enTrapmEnt, DefEat, lack of beLoNging, aNd PeRceiving onesELf As A burDeN alonG witH hAvIng An IMpulsIve peRsOnalitY And/OR less efFeCTiVe Social pROBlem-sOlviNg skiLls. two sTUdiEs HaVe indiCated ThAt self-harm CorrElateS more wITh pubErTal pHAse, PartiCUlarLY the End of PUbeRty (PEakinG ArouND 15 for girls), raTHer thaN with age. adolescents mAY BE MorE VUlNErable nEURoDeVElopMeNTalLY in tHIS tIme, aNd more vUlneRable to Social PreSsUres, WiTH dEpresSion, aLcOhOl abuSe, ANd sexual AcTIvitY as indepEndent contributiNg faCtors. And , CitinG . ("tHE iNcIdence Of suiciDal BehavioUrs varIes sEaSOnaLly ANd increaseS RApIdlY aT This aGe (e.G. PubErTy EffECTs)"), Citing . tRANSgEnder adolEsceNts are SignifIcantly morE liKely to ENgAGE in self-harM thAn theIr CisgeNDer PeerS. ThiS cAN be attrIButeD To disTreSs caUsed By gender DyspHoria aS welL As increasEd likeliHoods of Experiencing bulLYiNg, ABuse, ANd mental iLLnEss.