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Videnscenter for Psykotraumatologi

Research project on motives and mental health in self-harm

This study is conducted at the University of Southern Denmark under the title “Motives and correlates for self-harm”. The purpose of the study is to contribute to knowledge and understanding of self-harm and related concepts, including risk factors, mental health, role of sex, gender, and sexuality, and involvement in e-communities focusing on self-harm. The study has 4 primary aims:

  • To examine motives for and ways of engaging in self-harming behaviours, including motives for self-improvement.
  • To examine the role of risk factors, trauma history, and mental health in self-harming.
  • To examine motives for engaging in self-harm-focused social media forums, including how the members of such communities benefit from and are affected by their engagement in such e-communities.

To examine the influence of gender and gender-related factors, including sexual orientation, on self-harming. This final aim of the project overlaps with a different project which aims to validate a new sex, gender, and sexuality questionnaire currently under development.

The project consists of two parts: a questionnaire study and an interview study. Data collection for this project is currently on hold but will re-commence at a later time.



Might you be interested in filling out a questionnaire?

We are seeking participants who at times engage in self-harming behaviours and who are willing to fill out the questionnaire and/or take part in an online interview (please see below).

To be able to participate in the questionnaire study, you must:

  • Be aged 18 years or older
  • Understand English
  • Consent to the use of your data in research for the purposes and conditions described here

If you are interested in participating in the questionnaire part of the study, please read the participant information presented here, where you will also find a link to the questionnaire.



Might you be interested in participating in an interview?


We are seeking participants who at times engage in self-harming behaviours and who are willing to take part in an online interview focusing on motives and benefits from engaging in social media or other e-communities relating to self harm. The interview will be structured around an informal conversation, and you will remain in control of what and how much you wish to share. The interview will take approximately one hour and be conducted in English over a secure connection via Zoom. The sound, but not video, from the interview will be recorded, transcribed, and then deleted.
To be able to participate in an interview, you must:

  • Currently use or previously have used any group, sub-reddit, profile, messaging board etc. on any form of social media that serves as a forum for users to view, read, share, or discuss self-harming material
  • Be aged 18 years or older
  • Understand and speak English at a conversational level
  • Consent to the use of your data in research for the purposes and conditions described here

If you are interested in participating in the questionnaire part of the study, please read the participant information presented here, where you will also find contact information.



Project information

The project is carried out by University of Southern Denmark (SDU). Research leader is Dorte M. Christiansen, PhD, Department of Psychology and National Center of Psychotraumatology, Odense, Denmark. The project has been approved by the Regional Ethics Committee at the SDU.

All information regarding this study has been made available for download at this website.
If you have any doubts or further questions, please feel free to contact project leader Dorte M. Christiansen via the contact information included below. Please make sure not to include any sensitive personal information in your email.

Project leader:
Dorte M. Christiansen
National Center of Psychotraumatology
Department of Psychology
University of Southern Denmark
Campusvej 55
5230 Odense M
Denmark
Tlf: +45 65 50 83 43

Mail: dochristiansen@health.sdu.dk

Sidst opdateret: 26.03.2024