The self injury. A pilot study on risk factors: role and interaction of trauma, attachment, dissociation and alexithymia

Journal title PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE
Author/s Giuseppe Martorana
Publishing Year 2012 Issue 2012/2
Language Italian Pages 25 P. 7-31 File size 952 KB
DOI 10.3280/PDS2012-002002
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This study aims to investigate the role that traumatic experiences, attachment, affective dysregulation and dissociative processes have in the development of self injury, in a group of young people who self injuring. Participants were 27 (22 females, 5 males), and joined the search by filling out the questionnaire online available on "SIBRIC", website built ad hoc for the study and research about self injury. Subsequently were administered the following tests: TSI-A, ASQ, TAS- 20, DES-II and A-DES. The data from this pilot study support the hypothesis that traumatic events, difficulty in attachment, affect regulation and dissociation are risk factors for the development and maintenance of self injury. It would therefore be necessary to further study. Based on the results obtained, the author argues that an insecure attachment and traumatic experiences during childhood can undermine the capacity for regulation of affective states, thus fostering the emergence of dissociative symptoms and alexithymia traits. The self injury, would constitute a maladaptive strategy of emotion regulation used to manage these states.

Keywords: Self injury, risk factors, trauma, attachment, emotion regulation, internet.

Giuseppe Martorana, L’autoferimento. Uno studio pilota sui fattori di rischio: ruolo e interazione di trauma, attaccamento, dissociazione ed alessitimia in "PSICOLOGIA DELLA SALUTE" 2/2012, pp 7-31, DOI: 10.3280/PDS2012-002002