Semester
Fall
Date of Graduation
2008
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MS
College
Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Psychology
Committee Chair
William Fremouw
Abstract
Prevalence rates of non-suicidal self-injury among college students ranges from 17% to 38%. Research indicates that individuals with borderline personality disorder (BPD) who self-injure sometimes report an absence of pain during self-injury. Furthermore, self-injury in the absence of pain has been associated with more frequent suicide attempts. The present study examined pain thresholds and tolerance among 44 college students (11 self-injurious and 33 non-self-injurious). Pain thresholds and tolerance were measured using an algometer pressure device which has been used to produce pain previous laboratory research. Self-injurious participants had higher pain tolerances than those who do not engage in self-injury. In addition, self-injurious participants rated the pain as less intense than participants who did not engage in self-injury. Analyses of covariance (ANCOVAs) revealed that depression and fear of pain were associated with pain tolerance and pain rating.
Recommended Citation
McCoy, Katrina, "Thresholds and tolerance of physical pain among young adults who engage in self-injury" (2008). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 4404.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/4404
