Frustrated and Concerned: Understanding Antipathy Towards Clients Who Engage in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Australian Mental Health Practitioners

IF 2.7 3区心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy Pub Date : 2025-07-31 DOI:10.1002/cpp.70132

M. Wishart, J. Gates, A. Fisher, K. T. Hallam

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Abstract

Background

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) involves harm towards one's own body tissue without suicidal intent. Mental health workers' attitudes towards consumer NSSI may impact clinical care. This study aimed to explore factors associated with worker attitudes and antipathy towards NSSI.

Method

A quantitative survey including demographics, professional background, confidence regarding NSSI, Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury and Self-Harm Antipathy Scale was distributed to mental health workers in Australia. Two hundred and forty-five participants completed the survey, including 174 psychologists, 34 social workers, 23 counsellors and 14 youth workers, with 216 women and 29 men aged 24–70 years old, working in a range of health care settings.

Results

Higher age was negatively correlated with exposure to and confidence working with NSSI. Participants in private and community services had the highest exposure, with exposure and training associated with higher confidence working with NSSI.

Psychologists rated highest regarding antipathy to NSSI, followed by counsellors and social workers. Significant predictors of antipathy included professional background, level of experience, confidence in ability to manage the situation if a client needed immediate medical attention, the intrapersonal functions of affect regulation and self-punishment and the interpersonal function of toughness.

Conclusion

Findings suggest exposure to NSSI is prevalent across treatment settings. Differences exist between professions and people of different ages on exposure to, and confidence in working with NSSI. The results show predictors of antipathy are misconceptions about the functions of NSSI, professional background and confidence in working with NSSI. Further research is required to explore factors associated with professional orientation and antipathy to NSSI, alongside components of effective training.

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沮丧和担忧：了解澳大利亚心理健康从业人员对从事非自杀性自残的客户的反感

背景：非自杀性自伤（non - suicide self injury，简称NSSI）是指没有自杀意图的对自身身体组织的伤害。心理卫生工作者对消费者自伤的态度可能会影响临床护理。本研究旨在探讨工人对自伤的态度和反感的相关因素。方法采用人口统计学、专业背景、自伤信心、自伤陈述量表和自伤反感量表对澳大利亚精神卫生工作者进行定量调查。共有245名参与者完成了调查，其中包括174名心理学家、34名社会工作者、23名咨询师和14名青年工作者，其中216名女性和29名男性年龄在24至70岁之间，他们在各种卫生保健机构工作。结果年龄越大，自伤暴露程度越高，自伤自信程度越高。私人和社区服务的参与者接触程度最高，接触和培训与处理自伤的信心相关。心理学家对自伤的反感程度最高，其次是咨询师和社会工作者。反感的显著预测因子包括专业背景、经验水平、对需要立即医疗救助时处理情况的能力的信心、情感调节和自我惩罚的人际功能以及韧性的人际功能。结论：研究结果表明，在治疗环境中，自伤暴露是普遍存在的。不同职业和不同年龄的人在自伤接触和自信方面存在差异。结果显示，对自伤功能的误解、专业背景和处理自伤的信心是导致反感的因素。除了有效培训的组成部分外，还需要进一步的研究来探索与职业取向和对自伤反感相关的因素。

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来源期刊

Clinical psychology & psychotherapy PSYCHOLOGY, CLINICAL-

CiteScore

6.30

自引率

5.60%

发文量

106

期刊介绍： Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy aims to keep clinical psychologists and psychotherapists up to date with new developments in their fields. The Journal will provide an integrative impetus both between theory and practice and between different orientations within clinical psychology and psychotherapy. Clinical Psychology & Psychotherapy will be a forum in which practitioners can present their wealth of expertise and innovations in order to make these available to a wider audience. Equally, the Journal will contain reports from researchers who want to address a larger clinical audience with clinically relevant issues and clinically valid research.