Investigation of Self-injurious Behavior in Adolescents in Terms of Risk-taking Behavior and Self-esteem

The purpose of this study is to examine self-injurious behavior (SIB) in terms of risk-taking behavior and self-esteem. The study group was composed of 329 female and 402 male high school students - 731 in total - who were randomly selected and studying in various high schools in Trabzon (in Turkey). 270 of 731 adolescents were identified to have SIB behavior. 182 of these adolescents were male, 88 of them were female. The Inventory of Statements About Self-injury, The Adolescent Risk-Taking Questionnaire, Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and Personal Information Form were used in the collection of data. The results indicated that there were significant differences between risk- taking behaviors and self-esteem levels of adolescents with and without SIB. It was also found that there was a significant relationship between SIB and risk-taking behavior of the adolescents with SIB. It was seen that risk-taking behavior significantly predicted SIB (p < 0.001) yet, self-esteem was not a significant predictor. Adolescence is a period to consider in terms of the beginning and continuation of the SIB. Observation and early diagnosis of SIB will help to prevent the repetition of behavior and decrease the level of behavior. Thus, it is important to introduce the SIB and raise awareness related to this behavior for parents, educators, and mental health professionals.