One out of four young people has self-injured
According to research from KU Leuven, one-quarter of all youth have injured themselves deliberately as a means to escape from stress or exercise control
“Not unusual”
“These are alarming, but still not unusual statistics,” researcher Glenn Kiekens told Metro. “The results of surveys abroad are similar.”
Self-injury, such as cutting or burning oneself, is often used as a way to deal with negative feelings or stress. It can also provide a sense of control, escape from the pressure of societal demands or be a way to get attention.
The behaviour mostly develops during adolescence. Various environment factors can play a role, like abuse or bullying, but individual personality traits, like impulsivity, also have an influence. “The behaviour occurs just as often in girls and boys, but their methods are different,” explained Kiekens. “Boys more often bang their heads against something, while girls cut or scratch themselves more.”
