Editing Self-harm (section)

===Psychological factors===

Self-harm is frequently described as an experience of [[depersonalization]] or a [[dissociation (psychology)|dissociative]] state.<ref>Antai-Otong, D. 2008. Psychiatric Nursing: Biological and Behavioral Concepts. 2nd edition. Canada: Thompson Delmar Learning</ref> [[Child abuse|Abuse during childhood]] is accepted as a primary social factor increasing the incidence of self-harm,<ref name="strong">{{cite book |vauthors=Strong M |year=1999 |title=A Bright Red Scream: Self-Mutilation and the Language of Pain |publisher=Penguin |isbn=978-0-14-028053-1 |title-link=A Bright Red Scream}}</ref> as is [[grief|bereavement]],<ref name="BBC"/> and troubled parental or partner relationships.<ref name="fox_hawton"/><ref name="rea"/> Factors such as war, poverty, unemployment, and substance abuse may also contribute.<ref name="fox_hawton"/><ref name="meltzer"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Third World faces self-harm epidemic |date=1998-07-10 |work=BBC News |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/129684.stm |access-date=2008-05-26}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |vauthors=Fikette L |title=The deportation machine: unmonitored and unimpeded |publisher=Institute of Race Relations |year=2005 |url=http://www.irr.org.uk/2005/april/ha000011.html |access-date=2008-04-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080303135533/http://www.irr.org.uk/2005/april/ha000011.html |archive-date=2008-03-03}}</ref> 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.<ref name="fox_hawton"/>{{sfn|Hawton|Saunders|O'Connor|2012}}{{Page needed|date=August 2023}} 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.<ref>{{harvnb|Hawton|Saunders|O'Connor|2012|p=2374}} and {{harvnb|Patton|Viner|2007|p=1133}}, citing {{harvnb|Patton|Hemphill|Beyers|Bond|2007}}. {{harvnb|Knipe|John|Padmanathan|Eyles|2022|p=11}} ("the incidence of suicidal behaviours varies seasonally and increases rapidly at this age (e.g. puberty effects)"), citing {{harvnb|Roberts|Joinson|Gunnell|Fraser|2020}}.</ref> [[Transgender]] adolescents are significantly more likely to engage in self-harm than their cisgender peers.<ref>{{cite journal |vauthors=Connolly MD, Zervos MJ, Barone CJ, Johnson CC, Joseph CL |title=The Mental Health of Transgender Youth: Advances in Understanding |journal=The Journal of Adolescent Health |volume=59 |issue=5 |pages=489–495 |date=November 2016 |doi=10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.06.012 |pmid=27544457}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{cite journal |vauthors=Butler C, Joiner R, Bradley R, Bowles M, Bowes A, Russell C, Roberts V |title=Self-harm prevalence and ideation in a community sample of cis, trans and other youth |journal=The International Journal of Transgenderism |volume=20 |issue=4 |pages=447–458 |date=2019-10-02 |pmc=6913646 |doi=10.1080/15532739.2019.1614130 |pmid=32999629}}</ref> This can be attributed to distress caused by [[gender dysphoria]] as well as increased likelihoods of experiencing bullying, abuse, and mental illness.<ref name=":2"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Transgender youths who self-harm: perspectives from... |website=MHT |language=en |url=https://www.mentalhealthtoday.co.uk/transgender-youths-who-self-harm-perspectives-from-those-seeking-support |access-date=2021-12-26}}</ref>