Date of Award

2010

Degree Name

Psychology

College

College of Liberal Arts

Type of Degree

M.A.

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Keith Beard

Second Advisor

April Fugett-Fuller

Third Advisor

Joseph Wyatt

Abstract

A previous study (Najmi, Wegner, & Nock, 2007) has concluded that thought suppression and self-injury are related. Gender differences have been contradictory among those who self-injure. However, it has been found that females score higher than males on thought suppression scales (Wegner & Zanakos, 1994). Based on these findings, it was hypothesized that females would suppress their thoughts more than males. It was also hypothesized that females who suppress their thoughts would think about and engage in self-injury more than males who suppress their thoughts. Participants completed both the Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behavior Interview (SITBI) and the White Bear Suppression Inventory (WBSI). Data were analyzed by conducting correlations and the crosstabs form of a chi square. No significant correlation between gender and thought suppression was found when using a Pearson’s correlation (r=.07, p=.209). Individuals who suppressed their thoughts were more likely to think about self-injury than those who did not (r=.399, p < .01). In addition, those same people who suppressed their thoughts were more likely to engage in self-injury than those who did not (r=.416, p<.01).

Subject

Self-injurious behavior

Subject

Self-destructive behavior

Download

Share

COinS