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OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study were to establish the roles of coping typologies and the psychological problems associated with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and to identify adolescents who are at greater risk of engaging in this practice. METHOD: The total sample comprised 965 adolescents (57% girls, aged 12-18 years) from several Chilean schools who answered the Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury questionnaire. RESULTS: Young people with and without NSSI present different coping patterns, especially when compared by gender. Adolescents with repetitive NSSI (R-NSSI) report using escape, search for friendship, and venting feelings as coping strategies as well as a more avoidant style and less search for family support than those adolescents without NSSI. Adolescents who present avoidance coping typology are three times more likely (relative risk = 3.5) to engage in NSSI than adolescents who present approach coping typology. R-NSSI adolescents present higher scores on psychological symptomatology (within clinical ranges) than their N-NSSI counterparts. Girls were more likely to present psychological symptoms than boys. CONCLUSION: The authors highlight the usefulness of coping typologies for the detection of high-risk populations for NSSI as well as the need to consider the gender variable. Professionals who detect clinical levels of symptomatology should also assess the presence of NSSI.

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RESUMO

La conducta autodestructiva es un fenómeno prevalente en la adolescencia. El propósito principal del estudio es establecer la asociación entre conducta autodestructiva y tipologías de afrontamiento en adolescentes, detectando los perfiles de mayor riesgo. Un propósito previo y adicional es determinar la presencia de conducta autodestructiva en un rango subclínico/clínico, según género. A partir de una muestra total de 1.400 alumnos de Enseñanza General Básica con edades entre 12 y 16 años y utilizando un diseño transversal, los resultados indican que un 15% de los adolescentes refiere conductas autodestructivas dentro de un rango subclínico y/o clínico, no existiendo diferencias de género. Los adolescentes con mayor probabilidad de referir conducta autodestructiva son los pertenecientes a la tipología evitadora, caracterizada por sobreutilizar las estrategias de evitación en detrimento de las de aproximación. Las tipologías de afrontamiento se han mostrado más útiles en la predicción de conductas autodestructivas que la clásica dicotomía aproximación/evitación. Los resultados de este estudio pueden tener implicaciones a nivel de prevención y de tratamiento.

Self-destructive behavior is a phenomenon that is becoming increasingly prevalent among adolescents. The main objective of this study is to establish in Spanish communitarian adolescents the association between self-destructive behavior and coping typologies, detecting higher risk profiles. A previous and additional objective is to determine the presence of self-destructive behavior in a subclinical/clinical range according to gender. From a sample of 1400 high school students between 12 and 16 years the results of this cross-sectional study indicate that 15% of adolescents reports self-destructive behavior in a subclinical or clinical level. No gender differences were observed. The adolescents with higher risk of self-destructive behavior are those belonging to the avoidance typology, characterized by the overuse of avoidance coping responses at the expense of those of approach. Coping typologies are more useful in predicting the risk of self-destructive behavior than the typical approach/avoidance dichotomy. The results of this study may have important implications for the prevention and treatment of self-destructive behaviors in adolescents at risk.

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To analyze the psychometric properties of the Coping Response Inventory-Youth Form (CRI-Y) and its applicability, 426 Brazilian adolescents (43.3% boys, 56.7% girls), ages 12 to 18 years (M = 16.5, SD = 1.6), completed the authorized Brazilian/Portuguese version of the 1993 original. Analysis showed higher use of Approach coping and Emotional Discharge by the girls. The inventory showed internal consistency reliability was similar to that of the original scale. A two-factor structure reflecting Approach and Avoidance coping was found; however, the distribution of loadings of specific coping scales on this two-factor structure did not fit the original Moos model. The criterion validity analyzed by the use of the Youth Self-Report showed significant positive relation between the Avoidance dimension and Psychopathological symptoms for boys and girls. Data were discussed with respect to coping theory, assessment, and cultural influences.

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This study uses Moos's Coping Responses Inventory (Youth Form, 1993) to examine coping behavior in Spanish adolescents. 1362 adolescents were recruited from the metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain. All subjects were in high school and ages 12 to 16 years. The socio-economic status was primarily middle class. Adolescents' coping behaviors were examined by sex and age, and the relationship between problem appraisal and choice of coping strategy was analyzed. Girls used more approach, avoidance, and behavioral responses than boys, especially Logical Analysis, Seeking Guidance and Support, and Emotional Discharge strategies. At older ages, Logical Analysis and Emotional Discharge became more frequent in girls and Cognitive Avoidance less frequent in boys. The results also suggest that problem appraisal has only a limited effect on the selection of coping strategies and that only few strategies are related to the problems' outcomes.

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