Explain why particular individuals and groups may be more vulnerable to abuse
and harm self and others
Review risk factors which may lead you to incidents of abuse and harm self and
others.
Safe Guarding in Health and Social Care
Causes of vulnerability to abuse and harm
Self harm is a complex issue not only in its definition but also in relation to the
insufficiency of data available with regards to the patterns and frequency of this subject across
the globe. It is important to not that there is no “universal definition” of self harm. Moreover,
diverse views have been raised concerning the causes and risk factors among individuals that
harm themselves or others.
According to the study conducted by Hawton et al, it was determined that some people
may harm themselves or others as a means of communicating their distress to the general public
(Hawton et al, 2012). This disorder can also be an act of rebellion and the attempt to
individualize oneself, a manner of relieving intense anxiety temporarily, a way to regulate pain,
an effort to manage emotional numbness, or more still an effort to manipulate other people.
Individuals who harm themselves or/and others may develop an immediate sense of relief by
partaking in it. However, it is worth noting that this feeling is a temporary solution the feelings
that were distressing them initially will end up recurring once more. This paper seeks to find out
why some individuals are more vulnerable to abuse and harm self and others as well as the
associated risk factors to this type of behavior.
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Just like all other mental disorders, there is no single factor that predisposes a person to
engage in self harm. In general, self harm results due to inability of a person to properly manage
psychological pain in a manner that is healthy. Often, individuals who engage in this form of
unhealthy conduct find it difficult to regulate, express, or understand their emotions. The factors
that make individuals to be prone to abuse and harm self or others can be classified as follows;
Social factors
These are ranked as the commonest cause of abuse and harm due to the emotional
distress that they arouse in people. Social factors that have been pointed predispose individuals
to harm include;
- Having difficult relationships especially with friends and partners
- Difficulties at work such as demotions, unfair treatment by senior workers
and layoffs can also make people to be prone to harm and abuse. - Bullying: This can be at home by older siblings, relatives, or neighbors. It
can also be exercised in school or at work. An example of harm to others that was due to
bullying is the recent case that was all over the news whereby an American student went
to school with a gun and started shooting fellow students randomly (Fisher et al, 2012). - Poverty, whereby a person has several responsibilities such as paying
house rent, paying for children school fees, and providing the basic needs for his/her
family. This is common among adults who end up being depressed and may subject their
depression on their children by beating them up over petty reasons or even without any
reason at all. - Drug and substance abuse: Individuals prone to alcohol and substance
abuse disorders tend to be aggressive and are more likely to make claims of having
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suicidal thoughts or even previous suicidal attempts. In a recent study by Daine et al
(2013) of about 6500 adults who enrolled in addiction treatments it was proven that
individuals who had engaged in serious acts of violence such as murder, rape, and assault
leading to serious injury were more than twice likely to report several suicidal attempts.
- Sexuality- Persons who come to terms with their sexual orientation such
as being bisexual or gay may be a danger to themselves. - Cultural expectations can promote vulnerability of harm to self. A good
example is that of arranged marriages whereby ladies are often forced into marriages
against their will or worse even at a tender age. - Trauma can also enhance vulnerability of this disorder. Some causes of
trauma include; physical or emotional, sexual abuse such as rape or domestic abuse. The
death of a close family member or a close friend and having a miscarriage are also
common predisposing factors.
Emotional Distress
Emotions have also been linked abuse and harm vulnerability. An unhappy
situation or the distress from a traumatic experience can result in feelings of self hatred or
low self esteem. These emotions gradually build up and it becomes difficult for people to
seek help. Therefore, self harm or harming others may be a means of releasing these
pent-up feelings. They also indulge in this behavior as a way of coping with their
problems.
People that are more prone to harm themselves and others may be having
difficulties in regulating or managing their emotions (Figley et al, 2013). Therefore, they
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use self harm as a means of managing the anger and tension. Further research also
reported that such individuals are poorer in solving problems.
Psychological Causes
These also increase the tendency of people to take part in abuse and harm. For
example;
- People may be having repeated thoughts about harming themselves and
they feel like doing it, - Self harm can also be linked to borderline personality disorder- a disorder
that causes instability in a manner that one thinks, behaves, or feels, - Dissociation or loss of touch with oneself- self harm occurs without realizing it,
Organic reasons have also been associated with aggressive outbursts. Take an
example whereby a person has damage to his/her frontal lobe or certain forms of epilepsy. In
such circumstances, it is difficult to pin-point comprehensible argument for the expression of
aggressive episodes.
- Risk Factors for Harming Self and Others
The risk factors of self harm and others are not static. Their value of prediction keeps
changing depending on period they occur in a person’s development, social contexts, and the
circumstances that one faces. They can be found in an individual, the surroundings, or the
individual’s ability to react to the requirements or demands of the environment. Some factors
start manifesting as early as childhood while others do not appear at all until adolescence period
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or adulthood. Some risk factors entail the family, the school, the neighborhood, or the peer
group. Risk factors will be classified as follows for clarity.
Depression and mental illness
This is one of the most obvious risk factors for indulging in harm to self and others.
According to the research conducted by Andover et al, it was proven that mental and addictive
disorders result in almost 90% of the suicidal cases reported (Andover et al, 2012). At least one
in every twenty youths suffers from mental disorders that are severe enough to impair judgment.
However, the sad news is that less than 20% of these individuals receive treatment. Most of those
who harm themselves suffer from depression.
School risk Factors
Individuals who view their instructors as not understanding or caring or do not coexist
peacefully with their peers have vulnerability of harming others or themselves. They may be
associated with the following features;
- Past suspension or expulsion for violent behavior
- Social isolation, aggressiveness in grade K-3 or hyperactivity
- Misbehaving in class, truancy, or being involved frequently in fights
- Severe disciplinary issues
- Anger or frustration when handling school artwork or essays
- A student that has previously brought a weapon at school
- Academic failure when joining school
- Academic pressure from parents and guardians.
Community risk factors
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Persons that are highly exposed to community violence are at severe risk of engaging in
self-destructive behavior. This usually arises when one shapes his/her conduct after what they
have learned and experienced in the community. Moreover, some youth who grow up without
having meaningful connections with responsible adults lack the necessary guidance that they
should acquire so that they may cope with their daily lives (Moran, et al, 2012). Other
community risk factors include;
- Severe economic deprivation
- Easy accessibility to guns, weapons, and other dangerous equipments
- Poor community organization and low attachment in the neighborhood
- Few recreational activities for people in the community especially the
youth - Individuals who have engaged previously in vandalism and destruction of
property
Personal Risk Factors - Persons who have been involved in violent behavior previously
- History of being bullied by friends, classmates, or relatives
- History of uncontrolled angry outbursts and tantrums
- Individuals who have previously bullied their peers and younger youths
- Aggression to animals
- Alcohol and substance abuse
- Previous attempts of suicide
- Fire- setting
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- Persons that result in calling of names and cursing when they are mad
- Recent experience of loss, humiliation, or rejection
- Cult or gangs involvement
- Unstructured time
- Preoccupation with explosives and other weapons
- Does not own up and blames others for problems they are responsible for
- Often having mood swings and significant depression
Family Risk Factors - History of possession of a weapon and use by a family member
- History of being punished frequently
- Previous family violence
- Inconsistent or severe punishment
- Lack of support or proper supervision from parents and guardians
- Youth has a past history of abuse by a family member
- Individuals who grew up without clear expectations or standards of
behavior being imposed on them by their care givers.
Cultural Risk Factors
Conformity issues and assimilation, variations in expectations and gender roles feelings
of victimization and isolation can all increase the levels of stress and vulnerability of people. In
addition, some cultures especially the Pacific and Asian cultures view self harm particularly
suicide as a rational reaction to shame.
Situational Crises
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Daine et al argues that about 30% of individuals’ cases of abuse and harm to self and
others are linked to an identifiable precipitating occurrence such as loss of a valued
relationship, divorce of parents, the passing away of loved one, or sexual abuse. Normally,
all these events coincide with other risk factors (Daine et al, 2013).
Conclusion
Some individuals view self injury engagement as a means of coping with their emotions.
However, the troubles they are running away from will still be present even after their self-
mutilation. Moreover, the relief that these individuals feel after involving themselves in self
harm or abuse of others is usually short term.
Some of the interventions that can be used include interpersonal treatments, therapies of
problem-solving, and use of “emergency card” mode of interventions (Rossouw and Fonagy,
2012). Other treatment forms that have proved to be essential include dialectical conduct therapy
which is administered often among individuals who self-harm themselves and/or others from
time to time.
The burden associated with injury to self and others is often a heavy one, especially
because people who engage in this behavior do it in private where they hide their secret from
their loved ones and friends. They create a burden that is extremely hard to carry. This may
result in more severe self injury to escape the feelings. Therefore, proper platforms should be
established whereby such people can be access easily for counseling and support.
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References
Andover, M. S., Morris, B. W., Wren, A., & Bruzzese, M. E. (2012). The co-occurrence of non-
suicidal self-injury and attempted suicide among adolescents: distinguishing risk factors
and psychosocial correlates. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 6(11),
1-7.
Daine, K., Hawton, K., Singaravelu, V., Stewart, A., Simkin, S., & Montgomery, P. (2013). The
power of the web: a systematic review of studies of the influence of the internet on self-
harm and suicide in young people. PloS one, 8(10), e77555.
Figley, C., Huggard, P., & Rees, C. (2013). First do no self harm: understanding and promoting
physician stress resilience. Oxford University Press.
Fisher, H. L., Moffitt, T. E., Houts, R. M., Belsky, D. W., Arseneault, L., & Caspi, A. (2012).
Bullying victimisation and risk of self harm in early adolescence: longitudinal cohort
study. bmj, 344, e2683.
Hawton, K., Saunders, K. E., & O’Connor, R. C. (2012). Self-harm and suicide in
adolescents. The Lancet, 379(9834), 2373-2382.
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Moran, P., Coffey, C., Romaniuk, H., Olsson, C., Borschmann, R., Carlin, J. B., & Patton, G. C.
(2012). The natural history of self-harm from adolescence to young adulthood: a
population-based cohort study. The Lancet, 379(9812), 236-243.
Rossouw, T. I., & Fonagy, P. (2012). Mentalization-based treatment for self-harm in adolescents:
a randomized controlledtrial. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent
Psychiatry, 51(12), 1304-1313.