Volume_6_Issue_1_Digest

8 TPC Digest In completing this analysis, it is evident that further study is needed in the area of self-injury with regard to outward expression in the form of extremely aggressive behaviors, prevalence among differing ethnic groups and prevalence in the male population. Data from the current study indicate that males and members of diverse ethnic groups also are engaging in this destructive coping mechanism, perhaps in differing ways than are being addressed by current conceptual and empirical works. The results of this analysis are consistent with the literature that indicates self-hitting or physically aggressive behaviors resulting in injury are a more typical typology of self-injurious behaviors for adolescent males. Results from the YRBS provide further evidence that this is indeed an issue that spans culture and gender domains. Further research that expands to fully include gender, racial, cultural and age differences is certainly warranted. Kelly Emelianchik-Key, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Florida Atlantic University. Rebekah J. Byrd, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at East Tennessee State University. Amanda C. La Guardia, NCC, is an Assistant Professor at Sam Houston State University. Correspondence can be addressed to Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Department of Counselor Education, 777 Glades Road, Building 47, Room 458, Boca Raton, FL 33431, kemelian@fau.edu . S elf-injury is a significant issue with a variety of psychological, social, legal and ethical consequences and implications. Self-injurious behavior is commonly associated with the cutting, bruising or burning of the skin. The typical duration of a self-injurious act is usually less than 30 minutes, resulting in immediate relief from emotional turmoil. It is difficult to estimate the prevalence of self-injury for many reasons. It is vital to understand how self-injury typically manifests itself, how it affects differing populations based on gender and cultural differences, and the level of danger it truly represents to the person choosing to utilize it. Research proposes that males are just as likely as females to self-injure and perhaps go about it differently or are more secretive. As self-injury and other self-harming behaviors continue to be identified, researched and understood, new methods of evaluating these behaviors are developed. Suicide and self-injury are typically two different behaviors, but often are aggregated in reports and evaluations. Given that self-injury, self-harm and suicide attempts are a growing area of study, reliance on current and previous data sources for analysis of self-injury and self-harm behaviors can be used in order to highlight possible areas for research. In this study, data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), as gathered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has been used for the purpose of determining the prevalence of possible self-injurious behaviors among young women, men and youth from differing ethnic backgrounds. The information presented in this article is posed to present further evidence that suggests male self-injury exists and needs to be addressed in the assessment and treatment of presenting issues related to self-injury. Since depression is sometimes associated with suicidal ideation, self-injury and other harmful behaviors, recognition of the severity of client depressive symptoms, through thorough assessment techniques, becomes vital to treatment and selection of therapeutic interventions regardless of gender. This article used the data from the YRBS and analyzed it to provide empirical evidence for why issues of diversity need to be addressed within the self-injury and suicidality literature. Comparisons were made with regard to gender and ethnicity to evaluate issues related to possible self-injurious behaviors, since the YRBS does not differentiate between suicidal attempts and self-injurious behaviors. Kelly Emelianchik-Key, Rebekah J. Byrd, Amanda C. La Guardia Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Survey Trends 8