Understanding self-harm and coping among minority youth

The current study explores how cyber-victimization, depression, self-control, social capital and coping among primarily Hispanic youth in rural South Texas predicts self-harm and suicidal ideation. Results are informed by Self-control Theory to provide a structured, meaningful lens among cyber-victims engaging in harmful thought or behaviors. As part of an IRB approved pilot study, students (N=131) between 14-18 years of age participated in a health empowerment program to educate and assess their overall well-being (e.g., risk-taking, coping, peer influence, nutrition). Results indicate 12.7% of the sample reported sometimes/often thinking about attempting suicide and 23% reported cyber-victimization more than once. Through hierarchical analyses, demographics and other independent variables were entered in steps to determine to what extent they predict self-harm. In the final model, cyber-victimization and depression were the only significant predictors of self-harm. A repeated regression measure split by gender, revealed cyber-victimization as the only significant predictor of self-harm among males. For females, depression was the only significant predictor of self-harm but coping (p = .055) and cyber-victimization (p = .06) were trending.