The Personality Traits and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Engagement Among Filipino Adolescents: A Basis for an Intervention Plan

Abstract

Personality Traits and its possible association with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury had several research studies done across different countries but has been very limited here in the Philippines. The primary purpose of this study was to explore the behavior and functions of the respondents’ NSSI engagement while considering its possible relationship with their personality traits. The study utilized a mixed-method design, sequential explanatory that uses both quantitative and qualitative approach. The respondents were gathered through snowball sampling, coming from the areas of CALABARZON and NCR, with ages ranging from 16 to 24 years old. Results, therefore, showed that banging of one’s head, scratching and cutting were the top 3 forms of self-harm while having affection regulation or emotion regulation as the primary function of their NSSI engagement. Furthermore, the specific correlation between personality traits and NSSI Functions was also found through a thorough analysis of data. The study also came up with a theoretical model and detailed proposed intervention plan using the key findings and interview from selected respondents. Therefore, this study provided enough grounds to explore the identified variables further. Lastly, the theoretical model and proposed intervention plan could be a subject for further validation of future researchers.