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The impact of quality and quantity of social support on help-seeking behavior prior to deliberate self-harm.

Authors :
Wu CY
Stewart R
Huang HC
Prince M
Liu SI
Source :
General hospital psychiatry [Gen Hosp Psychiatry] 2011 Jan-Feb; Vol. 33 (1), pp. 37-44. Date of Electronic Publication: 2010 Dec 03.
Publication Year :
2011

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.<br />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.<br />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).<br />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.<br /> (Crown Copyright © 2011. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1873-7714
Volume :
33
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
General hospital psychiatry
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
21353126
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2010.10.006