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Positive attitudes and self-harming behavior of adolescents in a juvenile detention house in Taiwan

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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the less stigmatizing positivity construct screening measurement and its association with recent self-harming behaviors among adolescents. Participants were 193 detained Taiwanese adolescents. Questionnaires consisted of a deliberate self-harm inventory, a positivity construct measurement, a depression scale, data concerning risky health behaviors and demographics. The prevalence rate of recent self-harming behavior among adolescents in the detention house was 43.5%. The logistic model showed that age, gender and level of positivity demonstrated significant odds ratios for self-harm behavior. Results showed that younger age and female gender increased self-harming behavior. In addition, low score on positivity construct screening measurement increased the probability of self-harming behavior. Furthermore, these adolescents also engaged in risky health behaviors and were more depressed. Parental and school awareness for these risky behaviors should be enhanced and appropriate early interventions implemented to prevent negative health outcomes.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank everyone who provided assistance for the study in the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital. The study was supported by Grant Number FEMH-99-D-037 from the Far Eastern Memorial Hospital.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Family Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, No. 21, Sec. 2, Nan-Ya S. Rd., Ban-Chiao, Taipei, Taiwan

    Mei-Hua Tsai, Chih-Dao Chen & Chi-Pan Hsieh

  2. Department of Psychiatry, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, No. 21, Sec. 2, Nan-Ya S. Rd., Ban-Chiao, Taipei, 220, Taiwan

    Kai-Chi Fang

  3. Taipei Juvenile Detention House, No. 4, Shimen Road, Tucheng, Taipei, Taiwan

    Chia-Hui Lu

  4. Department of Healthcare Administration, Yanchao Campus, I-Shou University, No. 8, Yida Rd., Jiaosu Village, Yanchao District, Kaohsiung, Taiwan

    Tsung-Tai Chen

Authors
  1. Mei-Hua Tsai
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  2. Kai-Chi Fang
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  3. Chia-Hui Lu
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  4. Chih-Dao Chen
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  5. Chi-Pan Hsieh
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  6. Tsung-Tai Chen
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Correspondence to Kai-Chi Fang.

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Tsai, MH., Fang, KC., Lu, CH. et al. Positive attitudes and self-harming behavior of adolescents in a juvenile detention house in Taiwan. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 20, 413–418 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0193-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-011-0193-1

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