Conducting research on nonsuicidal self-injury in schools: Ethical considerations and recommendations
Abstract
Research on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has grown significantly over the last 15 years, with much of this work focused on factors that initiate and maintain NSSI among school-aged youth. Although this work is important, it does raise several ethical concerns. In this article we outline key ethical issues underlying NSSI research in schools and offer recommendations for conducting ethically sound and productive research in this area. Ethical concerns addressed include: 1) recruitment of minors to research; 2) disclosure and confidentiality; 3) the risk of iatrogenic effects; 4) duty of care; 5) engaging schools in research; and 6) safety of the researchers. In each area, we offer recommendations to assist researchers, ethics committees, and schools in working together to conduct ethical NSSI research, further our understanding of NSSI, and address and respond to these behaviors in schools.
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Biographies
Penelope A. Hasking is an Associate Professor of Psychology at Curtin University. Her work has focused on socio-cognitive factors that initiate and maintain non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in youth, the needs of school staff who address NSSI in the school setting, and the views of parents of young people who self-injure.
Stephen P. Lewis is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Guelph. His research examines nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and related mental health difficulties among youth and emerging adults using the Internet as a research platform and outreach tool.
Kealagh Robinson is a Doctoral Candidate in the School of Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. Her research uses psychophysiology and longitudinal self-report methods to understand the role of emotion and emotion regulation in the development of nonsuicidal self-injury.
Nancy L. Heath is a James McGill Professor in the Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology and Associate Dean of Research at McGill University's Faculty of Education in Canada. Dr Heath's research program explores resilience and adaptive functioning in youth and young adults at-risk with a particular focus on non-suicidal self-injury and mindfulness in schools.
Marc S. Wilson is a Professor in the School of Psychology at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand, and the leader of the New Zealand Youth Wellbeing Study, a longitudinal study investigating development, maintenance and cessation of suicidal and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among a large group of secondary school-age adolescents.
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Article first published online: February 6, 2019
Issue published: June 2019
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