Self-Esteem, Parental Attachment and Mental Health Correlates of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) among in-School Adolescents in Gboko LGA, Benue State
ZAR, Vershima Daniel
Department of Community, School of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
Agbaje Samson
Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, University of Nigeria Nsukka, Nigeria.
Gimbason Daniel Mairafi
Department of Community Health, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.
Jibrin M. D. *
Department of Community Health, Nasarawa State University, Keffi, Nigeria.
UMAR, Ibrahim
Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Yohanna Wamanyi
Community Health Institute, Abuja, Nigeria.
Emmanuel Etim Clement
Department of Public Health, University of Port Harcourt School of Public Health, Nigeria.
Bashir Idris
Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
Umar Jibril El-Muqaddas
Community Health Practitioners Registration Board of Nigeria, Abuja, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
The study investigated the role of self-esteem and parental attachment in the relationship between mental health states (specifically depression and anxiety) and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among in-school adolescents in Gboko Local Government Area. Three specific objectives with corresponding research questions guided the study. The correlational research design was adopted for the study. The population for the study consisted of 420 in-school adolescents in Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State. The sample size for the study was drawn using a multi-stage sampling technique. The instruments for data collection were the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale and the Reasons for Attempting Suicide Questionnaire. Data were analysed using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation, and point-biserial correlation. The results of the study showed that in-school adolescents had a low proportion (11.4%) of engagement in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behaviour. There was a positive weak relationship between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behaviours and depression (rbp = 0.20) and anxiety (rbp =.26). There was a weak negative relationship between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behaviours, self-esteem (rbp = - 0.148), while there was a moderate negative relationship between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behaviours and parental attachment (rbp = -0.434). In-school adolescents with good self-esteem (OR = 0,949; 95% C.I. = 0.86 – 1.05; P = 0.319) and good parental attachment (OR = 0,869; 95% C.I. = 0.84 – 0.90; P = 0.000) are 0.95 times and 0.87 times less likely to engage in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury behaviour than those with poor self-esteem and parental attachment in Gboko Local Government Area, Benue State. It was recommended among adolescents that public health campaigns should be conducted to raise awareness about Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, its risk factors, and its preventive strategies. These campaigns should target adolescents, parents, and teachers, focusing on reducing stigma around mental health and encouraging help-seeking behaviour.
Keywords: Non-suicidal self-injury, adolescent mental health, parental attachment, self-esteem, in-school adolescents