Examining Sexual Assault Victimization and Loneliness as Risk Factors Associated With Nonlethal Self-Harm Behaviors in Female College Students: Is It Important to Control for Concomitant Suicidal Behaviors (and Vice Versa)?

• Published in: Journal of interpersonal violence 2019-11, Vol.34 (21-22), p.4443-4458
• Main Authors: Chang, Edward C., Lee, Jerin, Wright, Kaitlin M., Najarian, Alexandria S.-M., Yu, Tina, Chang, Olivia D., Hirsch, Jameson K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; College students; Crime Victims - psychology; Female; Females; Humans; Loneliness; Loneliness - psychology; Risk Factors; Self destructive behavior; Self-Injurious Behavior - prevention & control; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Sex crimes; Sex Offenses - psychology; Students - psychology; Suicidal behavior; Suicidal Ideation; Suicide; United States; Victimization; Victims of crime; Young Adult
• ISSN: 0886-2605; 1552-6518; 1552-6518
• DOI: 10.1177/0886260516675920

The present study examined sexual assault victimization and loneliness as predictors of self-harm behaviors in a sample of 224 female college students. Results from conducting regression analysis indicated that both sexual assault victimization and loneliness were unique and significant predictors of self-harm behaviors. This pattern remained even after controlling for concomitant suicidal behaviors. Interestingly, in a post hoc analysis predicting suicidal behaviors, it was found that loneliness, but not sexual assault victimization, was the only unique and significant predictor after controlling for self-harm behaviors. Some implications of the present findings for understanding self-harm behaviors in female college students and the importance of controlling for suicidal behaviors in studies of self-harm behaviors (and vice versa) are discussed.