Understanding deliberate self-harm among college women: Applying feminist theory to the affect regulation model

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Hypes, A. (2010). Understanding deliberate self-harm among college women: Applying feminist theory to the affect regulation model. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This study examined potential contributors to self-harm behavior (DSH) among college women aged 18-25 years (N = 447). A model explaining DSH lifetime history among young women was tested, bridging feminist thought with the affect regulation model. Specifically, it was hypothesized that greater inauthenticity in relationships and body objectification, more negative attitudes towards emotional expression, less frequent emotional disclosure, and greater difficulties with emotion regulation would contribute to a greater likelihood of DSH. A total of 29.7% (N = 131) participants reported a history of DSH. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results resulted in revision of the hypothesized model. The identified model explaining DSH likelihood suggests greater inauthenticity in relationships, greater body objectification, more negative attitudes towards emotional expression, and greater difficulty with emotion regulation contribute to increased likelihood of DSH, after accounting for mental health diagnoses. Results indicate that the internalization of certain pressures for young women (i.e., inauthenticity in relationships and body objectification), as well as factors identified in the affect regulation model (i.e., negative attitudes towards emotional expression and difficulties with emotion regulation), work together in informing the understanding DSH among this population.

Details
Author

Hypes, Annada

Title

Understanding deliberate self-harm among college women: Applying feminist theory to the affect regulation model

Physical Description

1 online resource (133 pages) : PDF

Date

2010

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This study examined potential contributors to self-harm behavior (DSH) among college women aged 18-25 years (N = 447). A model explaining DSH lifetime history among young women was tested, bridging feminist thought with the affect regulation model. Specifically, it was hypothesized that greater inauthenticity in relationships and body objectification, more negative attitudes towards emotional expression, less frequent emotional disclosure, and greater difficulties with emotion regulation would contribute to a greater likelihood of DSH. A total of 29.7% (N = 131) participants reported a history of DSH. Structural equation modeling (SEM) results resulted in revision of the hypothesized model. The identified model explaining DSH likelihood suggests greater inauthenticity in relationships, greater body objectification, more negative attitudes towards emotional expression, and greater difficulty with emotion regulation contribute to increased likelihood of DSH, after accounting for mental health diagnoses. Results indicate that the internalization of certain pressures for young women (i.e., inauthenticity in relationships and body objectification), as well as factors identified in the affect regulation model (i.e., negative attitudes towards emotional expression and difficulties with emotion regulation), work together in informing the understanding DSH among this population.

Genre

doctoral dissertations

Subjects--Topics

Clinical psychology

Degree

Ph.D.

Keywords

College Women
Deliberate self-Harm
Emotion Regulation
Feminist Theory
Ideologies of Femininity
Self-Injury

Subject Area

Health Psychology

Advisor(s)

Gil-Rivas, Virginia

Committee Members

Webb, Jennifer
Blanchard, Anita
Hopcroft, Rosemary

Degree Note

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2010.

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Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Hypes_uncc_0694D_10118

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:1630