Abstract:
This study investigated the prevalence of self-harming practices among South African university students. Respondents
were 201 students attending a small university of technology in South Africa (females = 55%; males = 45%). The students
completed a survey on their self-harming behaviours by type, frequency, and context of occurrence. The data were used to
descriptively profile self-harming behaviours among the students. Secondary analysis considered any group differences by
gender. In total, 19.4% of the respondents reported deliberate self-harm. Mental pain was reported as the most prevalent
category of behaviours, at 23.4% of the sample. Most of the types of deliberate self-harming behaviour were engaged
in only once. Statistically significant associations were found between gender and substance abuse and risky general
behaviour, respectively, where females were at higher risk of engaging in both self-harming behaviours.
