Students who self-harm: coping style, rumination and alexithymia

Borrill, J., Fox, P., Flynn, M. and Roger, D. 2009. Students who self-harm: coping style, rumination and alexithymia. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 22 (4), pp. 361-372. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070903334607

TitleStudents who self-harm: coping style, rumination and alexithymia
AuthorsBorrill, J., Fox, P., Flynn, M. and Roger, D.
Abstract

Counsellors working with students or other young adults may encounter individuals who have self-harmed, either with suicidal or non-suicidal intent. Recent US studies reported rates of self-injury of up to 37% of the student population, but studies in the UK have focussed primarily on younger adolescents. This study examined reported self-harm incidents (scratching, cutting, poisoning, overdose etc) from a sample of 617 university students. A total of 27% reported at least one incident of self-harm, with almost 10% having harmed themselves while at university. Gender differences were not significant but psychology students reported significantly more self-harm than other students. Participants reporting self-harm scored significantly higher on maladaptive coping styles, rumination, and alexithymia (specifically difficulty in identifying emotions) and these differences were most marked for students reporting repetitive and recent self-harm. Rumination and Alexithymia factor 1 (difficulty identifying feelings) emerged as the most robust factors predicting self-harm status. Comments from students who self-harmed at university highlighted the importance of accessible services and academic staff support. The implications of these findings for counselling interventions are discussed, including challenging negative rumination tendencies and developing mindfulness skills.

JournalCounselling Psychology Quarterly
Journal citation22 (4), pp. 361-372
ISSN0951-5070
YearDec 2009
PublisherTaylor & Francis
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070903334607
Publication dates
PublishedDec 2009

Related outputs

Smaller Cortisol Awakening Responses Are Associated with Greater Visual Dependence in Postural Control
Smyth, N., Milani, M., Thorn, L., Flynn, M., Golding, J.F., Evans, P. and Clow, A. 2021. Smaller Cortisol Awakening Responses Are Associated with Greater Visual Dependence in Postural Control. Healthcare. 9 (6) 723. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare9060723

The effect of the visual exercise environment on the response to psychological stress: a pilot study
Wood, C., Flynn, M., Law, R., Naufahu, J. and Smyth, N. 2020. The effect of the visual exercise environment on the response to psychological stress: a pilot study. Anxiety, Stress and Coping. 33 (6), pp. 716-729. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2020.1770231

Assessing the Effectiveness of Automated Emotion Recognition in Adults and Children for Clinical Investigation
Flynn, M., Effraimidis, D., Angelopoulou, A., Kapetanios, E., Williams, D., Hemanth, J. and Towell, T. 2020. Assessing the Effectiveness of Automated Emotion Recognition in Adults and Children for Clinical Investigation. Frontiers in Human Neuroscience. 14 70. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2020.00070

Attenuated cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress is associated with greater visual dependency in postural control
Smyth, N., Flynn, M., Rajcani, J., Hucklebridge, F., Thorn, L., Wood, C., Golding, J., Evans, P. and Clow, A. 2019. Attenuated cortisol reactivity to psychosocial stress is associated with greater visual dependency in postural control . Psychoneuroendocrinology. 104, pp. 185-190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2019.02.028

Repressors exhibit lower cortisol reactivity to group psychosocial stress
Oskis, A., Smyth, N., Flynn, M. and Clow, A. 2019. Repressors exhibit lower cortisol reactivity to group psychosocial stress. Psychoneuroendocrinology. 103, pp. 33-40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2018.12.220

Exploring suicidal behaviours by probation clients—a qualitative near-lethal study
Mackenzie, J.-M., Borrill, J. and Cartwright, T. 2018. Exploring suicidal behaviours by probation clients—a qualitative near-lethal study. The Journal of Public Health. 40 (1), pp. 146-153. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdx005

Visual mismatch negativity to masked stimuli presented at very brief presentation rates
Flynn, M., Liasis, A, Gardner, M. and Towell, A. 2017. Visual mismatch negativity to masked stimuli presented at very brief presentation rates. Experimental Brain Research. 235 (2), pp. 555-563. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-016-4807-1

Suicide & Supervision: Issues for Probation Practice
Borrill, J., Cook, L.C. and Beck, A. 2016. Suicide & Supervision: Issues for Probation Practice. Probation Journal. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550516677770

Observed bodies generate object-based spatial codes
Taylor, A., Flynn, M., Edmonds, C.J. and Gardner, M. 2016. Observed bodies generate object-based spatial codes. Acta Psychologica. 169, pp. 71-78. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.actpsy.2016.05.009

The Relationship between Self-Harm and Alexithymia
Norman, H. and Borrill, J. 2015. The Relationship between Self-Harm and Alexithymia. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. 56 (4), pp. 405-419. https://doi.org/10.1111/sjop.12217

Probation staff experiences of managing suicidal and self-harming service users
Mackenzie, J.-M., Cartwright, T., Beck, A. and Borrill, J. 2015. Probation staff experiences of managing suicidal and self-harming service users. Probation Journal. 62 (2), pp. 111-127. https://doi.org/10.1177/0264550515571396

Identifying suicide risk in a metropolitan probation trust: risk factors and staff decision-making
Cook, L.C. and Borrill, J. 2015. Identifying suicide risk in a metropolitan probation trust: risk factors and staff decision-making. Legal and Criminological Psychology. 20 (2), pp. 255-266. https://doi.org/10.1111/lcrp.12034

General and specific avoidance: the development and concurrent validation of a new measure of avoidance coping
Stemmet, L., Roger, D., Kuntz, J. and Borrill, J. 2014. General and specific avoidance: the development and concurrent validation of a new measure of avoidance coping. European Journal of Psychological Assessment. (31), pp. 222-230. https://doi.org/10.1027/1015-5759/a000220

Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors
Kavanagh, L. and Borrill, J. 2013. Exploring the experiences of ex-offender mentors. Probation Journal. 60 (4), pp. 400-414. https://doi.org/1177/0264550513502247

Researching suicide, attempted suicide and near-lethal self-harm by offenders in community settings: Challenges for future research
Mackenzie, J.-M., Borrill, J. and Dewart, H. 2013. Researching suicide, attempted suicide and near-lethal self-harm by offenders in community settings: Challenges for future research. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. 12 (1), pp. 26-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2012.760184

Researching suicide, attempted suicide and near-lethal self-harm by offenders in community settings: challenges for future research
Mackenzie, J.-M., Borrill, J. and Dewart, H. 2013. Researching suicide, attempted suicide and near-lethal self-harm by offenders in community settings: challenges for future research. International Journal of Forensic Mental Health. 12 (1), pp. 26-32. https://doi.org/10.1080/14999013.2012.760184

A work placement year for psychology undergraduates: Challenges and how students change
Ryder, K., Colwell, J. and Borrill, J. 2012. A work placement year for psychology undergraduates: Challenges and how students change. Europlat 2012. Vilnius, Lithuania 28 - 30 Jun 2012

Empathic and non-empathic routes to visuospatial perspective-taking
Gronholm, P.C., Flynn, M., Edmonds, C.J. and Gardner, M. 2012. Empathic and non-empathic routes to visuospatial perspective-taking. Consciousness and Cognition. 21 (1), pp. 494-500. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.concog.2011.12.004

Using qualitative methods to explore non-disclosure: the example of self-injury
Borrill, J., Lorenz, E. and Abbasnejad, A. 2012. Using qualitative methods to explore non-disclosure: the example of self-injury. International Journal of Qualitative Methods. 11 (4), pp. 384-398.

Rumination, inhibition and stress: the construction of a new scale for assessing emotional style
Roger, D., Guarino de Scremin, L., Borrill, J. and Forbes, A. 2011. Rumination, inhibition and stress: the construction of a new scale for assessing emotional style. Current Psychology. 30 (3), pp. 234-244. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-011-9117-y

Religion, ethnicity, coping style, and self-reported self-harm in a diverse non-clinical UK population
Borrill, J. 2011. Religion, ethnicity, coping style, and self-reported self-harm in a diverse non-clinical UK population. Mental Health, Religion & Culture. 14 (3), pp. 259-269. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674670903485629

The effect of smoking nicotine tobacco versus smoking deprivation on motion sickness
Golding, J.F., Prosyanikova, O., Flynn, M. and Gresty, M.A. 2011. The effect of smoking nicotine tobacco versus smoking deprivation on motion sickness. Autonomic Neuroscience: Basic and Clinical. 160 (1-2), pp. 53-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.autneu.2010.09.009

Not 'just a student': a qualitative exploration of business, psychology and law students' accounts of their placement experience
Ryder, K., Borrill, J., Powell-Williams, K. and Colwell, J. 2011. Not 'just a student': a qualitative exploration of business, psychology and law students' accounts of their placement experience. The Journal of Vocational Education and Training Ninth International Conference. Worcester College, Oxford 08 - 10 Jul

Near-miss suicides in offenders doing community sentences
Mackenzie, J.-M. and Borrill, J. 2011. Near-miss suicides in offenders doing community sentences. International Association of Forensic Mental Health Services Conference. Barcelona 29 Jun - 01 Jul 2011

The experience of implementing a Psychology Work Placement year
Dewart, H., Colwell, J. and Borrill, J. 2011. The experience of implementing a Psychology Work Placement year. International Conference on the Teaching of Psychology. Vancouver 29 - 31 Jul 2011

Evaluation of mental health first aid training in North East England
Borrill, J. 2011. Evaluation of mental health first aid training in North East England. Report for MHFA England.

Competence-based training and assessment by portfolio: the health psychology model
Elander, J., Towell, A. and Fox, P. 2010. Competence-based training and assessment by portfolio: the health psychology model. Psychology Learning and Teaching. 6 (2), pp. 73-79. https://doi.org/10.2304/plat.2007.6.2.73

Mental health first aid training: evaluation by private sector participants
Borrill, J. 2010. Mental health first aid training: evaluation by private sector participants. Report for MHFA England.

Suicides by foreign national prisoners in England and Wales 2007: mental health and cultural issues
Borrill, J. and Taylor, D.A. 2009. Suicides by foreign national prisoners in England and Wales 2007: mental health and cultural issues. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology. 20 (6), pp. 886-905. https://doi.org/10.1080/14789940903174113

Can illusory deviant stimuli be used as attentional distractors to record vMMN in a passive three stimulus oddball paradigm?
Flynn, M., Liasis, A., Gardner, M., Boyd, S. and Towell, A. 2009. Can illusory deviant stimuli be used as attentional distractors to record vMMN in a passive three stimulus oddball paradigm? Experimental Brain Research. 197 (2), pp. 153-161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00221-009-1901-7

Review of suicides by foreign national prisoners
Borrill, J., Taylor, D.A. and Nooney, K. 2008. Review of suicides by foreign national prisoners. 12th European Symposium on Suicide & Suicidal Behaviour. Glasgow 27 - 30 Aug 2008

Self-harm, rumination and coping style
Borrill, J., Flynn, M., Fox, P. and Roger, D. 2008. Self-harm, rumination and coping style. 29th Stress and Anxiety Research Society Conference (STAR). Birkbeck, University of London 16 - 18 Jul 2008

Suicide
Borrill, J. 2008. Suicide. in: Towl, G., Farrington, D., Crighton, D. and Hughes, G. (ed.) Dictionary of forensic psychology Cullumpton Willan Publishing.

P36.42 Identification of a pre-attentive visual discrimination response
Flynn, M., Liasis, A., Gardner, M. and Towell, A. 2006. P36.42 Identification of a pre-attentive visual discrimination response. Clinical Neurophysiology. 117 (Supplement 1), p. 194. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2006.06.651

The mental health consequences of dealing with self-inflicted death in custody
Wright, L., Borrill, J., Teers, R. and Cassidy, T. 2006. The mental health consequences of dealing with self-inflicted death in custody. Counselling Psychology Quarterly. 19 (2), pp. 165-180. https://doi.org/10.1080/09515070600811824

Enhancing prisoners' coping skills
Dear, G.E. and Borrill, J. 2006. Enhancing prisoners' coping skills. in: Dear, G.E. (ed.) Preventing suicide and other self-harm in prison Basingstoke, UK Palgrave Macmillan.

Responding to a self-inflicted death in custody: support services and postvention
Borrill, J. and Hall, J. 2006. Responding to a self-inflicted death in custody: support services and postvention. in: Dear, G.E. (ed.) Preventing suicide and other self-harm in prison Basingstoke, UK Palgrave Macmillan.

The brain-sex theory of occupational choice: a counterexample
Esgate, A. and Flynn, M. 2005. The brain-sex theory of occupational choice: a counterexample. Perceptual and Motor Skills. 100 (1), pp. 25-37.

Learning from 'near misses': interviews with women who survived an incident of severe self-harm in prison
Borrill, J., Snow, L., Medlicott, D., Teers, R. and Paton, J. 2005. Learning from 'near misses': interviews with women who survived an incident of severe self-harm in prison. Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. 44 (1), pp. 57-69. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2311.2005.00355.x

Prisons
Paton, J. and Borrill, J. 2004. Prisons. in: Duffy, D. and Ryan, T. (ed.) New approaches to preventing suicide: a manual for practitioners London, UK Jessica Kingsley. pp. 114-130

Patterns of self-harm and attempted suicide among white and black/mixed race female prisoners
Borrill, J., Burnett, R., Atkins, R., Miller, S., Briggs, D., Weaver, T. and Maden, A. 2003. Patterns of self-harm and attempted suicide among white and black/mixed race female prisoners. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health. 13 (4), pp. 229-270. https://doi.org/10.1002/cbm.549

Self-inflicted deaths of women in custody
MacKenzie, N., Oram, C. and Borrill, J. 2003. Self-inflicted deaths of women in custody. British Journal of Forensic Practice. 5 (1), pp. 27-35.

Self-inflicted deaths of prisoners serving life sentences
Borrill, J. 2002. Self-inflicted deaths of prisoners serving life sentences. British Journal of Forensic Practice. 4 (4), pp. 30-38.

Declining the offer of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for bowel cancer: a qualitative investigation of the decision-making process
McCaffery, K., Borrill, J., Williamson, S., Taylor, T., Sutton, S., Atkin, W. and Wardle, J. 2001. Declining the offer of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening for bowel cancer: a qualitative investigation of the decision-making process. Social Science & Medicine. 53 (5), pp. 679-691. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0277-9536(00)00375-0

Acceptability of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in older adults in the United Kingdom
Taylor, T., Williamson, S., Wardle, J., Borrill, J., Sutton, S. and Atkin, W. 2000. Acceptability of flexible sigmoidoscopy screening in older adults in the United Kingdom. Journal of Medical Screening. 7 (1), pp. 38-45. https://doi.org/10.1136/jms.7.1.38

Permalink - https://westminsterresearch.westminster.ac.uk/item/908vz/students-who-self-harm-coping-style-rumination-and-alexithymia


Share this

Usage statistics

256 total views
0 total downloads
These values cover views and downloads from WestminsterResearch and are for the period from September 2nd 2018, when this repository was created.