Gender differences in self-harm in young people
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Gender differences in self-harm in young people: A systematic review and within group analysis of the SHIFT trial dataset
IRAS ID
227335
Contact name
David Cottrell
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Leeds
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
Self-harm is a common and worrying problem in young people. Self-harm involves a person causing an injury to themselves, whether or not they wanted to die. In younger teenagers self-harm is much more common in girls than boys. As people get older this changes so that there are roughly equal numbers of adult men and women who self-harm. There has been little research done to identify the reasons behind this striking gender difference in young people. This research project aims to explore if boys and girls have different reasons for self-harm. \nThe project is made up of three parts. The first is a review of existing research on differences between boys and girls who self-harm. The second part uses information that has already been collected in a previous research project. This information will be analysed to look for differences between boys and girls who self-harm. This will look at gender differences in the behaviours involved in the act of self-harm, as well as gender differences in the young person’s early life experiences, family relationships, friendships, and emotional difficulties. The third part will also use information that has already been collected to look at differences in boys and girls that arise after they have self-harmed, including whether or not they attend hospital for self-harm again.\n
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester South Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0449
Date of REC Opinion
19 Jul 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion