Self Injury as a Coping Mechanism to Stress and Depression: Acceptability Among College Students

College students (n = 191) participated in a study designed to examine reactions to depictions of self-injury (SI) behaviors. After reading one of six depictions of apparent SI behaviors ranging in severity, participants responded to scenario-based questions. Students also provided information regarding personal history of self-injury and completed a variety of measures to assess psychological well-being, such as stress, depression, self-esteem, and life satisfaction scales. Results indicated that men and women do not differ in their recognition of, identification with, or acceptance of self-injury as a coping mechanism. Self-report measures do suggest that men and women differ in the factors preceding the occurrence of SI behaviors