The impact of quality and quantity of social support on help-seeking behavior prior to deliberate self-harm
Journal
General Hospital Psychiatry
Journal Volume
33
Journal Issue
1
Pages
37-44
Date Issued
2011
Author(s)
Abstract
Objective: Little is known about use of formal or informal help-seeking resources prior to deliberate self-harm (DSH) outside Western settings. The aim of the study was to investigate help-seeking behavior and correlates of this prior to self-harm in an East Asian setting. Methods: Over a year period, consecutive attendees at a general hospital emergency room in Taiwan with DSH were asked about prior medical contact and informal help-seeking in the month prior to DSH. Self-reported social support/network was measured using the Close Persons Questionnaire. Results: The mean age of the 209 participants was 35.2 years (S.D.=13.3), with three times more women (75.6%) than men. Nearly half had made medical contact (47.1%) or sought informal help (54.1%) within the month prior to DSH. After adjustment, higher level of confiding and practical support were associated with seeking informal help (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06-1.23; OR 1.17, 95% CI 1.04-1.32, respectively). Prior medical contact was negatively associated with higher social network outside the home (OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.85-0.98). Conclusion: Social support/network potentially modifies help-seeking behavior prior to DSH. Quality rather than quantity of social support was associated with seeking informal support, with the reverse pattern associated with prior medical contact. ? 2011.
Subjects
Deliberate self-harm; Help-seeking behaviors; Social support
Other Subjects
adult; aged; article; automutilation; burn; controlled study; drug overdose; emergency ward; employment status; female; general hospital; help seeking behavior; human; human relation; major clinical study; male; marriage; medical service; qualitative analysis; quantitative analysis; questionnaire; religion; self poisoning; self report; social network; social support; Taiwan; wrist injury; Adult; Confidence Intervals; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Patient Acceptance of Health Care; Questionnaires; Self-Injurious Behavior; Social Support; Taiwan; Young Adult
Type
journal article