Services on Demand
Journal
Article
Indicators
- Cited by SciELO
Related links
- Similars in SciELO
Share
Revista del Nacional (Itauguá)
Print version ISSN 2072-8174
Abstract
BARRIOS, Iván et al. Non-suicidal Self-injury in Medical Students: Frequency and Associated Factors. Rev. Nac. (Itauguá) [online]. 2023, vol.15, n.2, pp.64-77. ISSN 2072-8174. https://doi.org/10.18004/rdn2023.dic.02.064.077.
Introduction:
the mental health of medical students has been extensively researched, showing that they are part of a group vulnerable to the development of mental disorders.
Aim:
the aim of this research was to determine the frequency of NSSI and its associated factors in medical students in Paraguay.
Methodology:
this was a descriptive and cross-sectional study. An online survey was launched to assess depression, anxiety, and self-harm, the PHQ-2, the GAD-7 and SHQ scales were used, respectively.
Results:
we received responses from 330 medical students. Of the participants, 71.2 % were female. 46.4% of the participants were identified as having depression (PHQ-2 ≥ 3) and 37.3 % as having anxiety (GAD-7 ≥10). The frequency of NSSI was 27 % (n = 89). The main factors associated with NSSI were a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder (which increased the likelihood of NSSI by 3.76 times) and/ or a history of physical or sexual abuse (with a 3.75-fold increase).
Conclusion:
this research found the presence of NSSI in almost 3 out of 10 of the medical students surveyed. The main factors associated with self-injurious behavior were a previous diagnosis of a mental disorder and/or a history of physical or sexual abuse.
Keywords : non-suicidal Self-injury; Self-harm; Depression; Anxiety; Medical Students.