| dc.description.abstract | The objective of the study was to investigate differences in non–suicidal self–injury (NSSI)
characteristics, NSSI functions, and body investment for individuals of Middle Eastern and
European descent recruited from Middle Eastern countries, Canada, and the United States.
Individuals who did not have a history of NSSI served as control groups. A total sample of 649
participants completed an online questionnaire that consisted of a demographics background
section which also contained questions about NSSI during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Body
Investment Scale (BIS), Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale, the Deliberate Self–Harm
Inventory, and the Inventory of Statements About Self–Harm (ISAS). The findings showed
body investment to be negatively correlated with NSSI severity. Analyses based on groups (n =
80) matched on sex, gender, age, education, and socioeconomic status were carried out. Among
self–injurers, those of Middle Eastern descent endorsed higher levels of body care and comfort
with physical touch than those of European descent. Examination of effect size showed that
self–injurers endorsed body investment more strongly than non–self–injurers, and that this was
more prominent among those of Middle Eastern descent. Effect size also showed that self–
injurers of European descent endorsed the NSSI functions more strongly than self–injurers of
Middle Eastern descent. Finally, fewer than half of self–injurers continue to hurt themselves
during the COVID-19 pandemic, and for those who did, they hurt themselves more frequently
and more severely. It was reported that they self–injured for the same reasons as before the
pandemic, and they took more time to act on their desire to self-injure. | en_US |
