Exploring mindfulness in self-injuring adolescents in a psychiatric setting

Abstract

This study explored mindfulness amongst eight self-injuring psychiatric adolescents. A mixed-method design was used. Interviews and clinical records comprised the qualitative data, while quantitative data was gathered using the Five-Facet Mindfulness Questionnaire (FFMQ: Baer, Smith, Hopkins, Krietemeyer & Toney, 2006). Thematic analysis was used to generate themes and subthemes. Findings suggest that those who sometimes act mindfully tend to be more self-critical, report more severe injuries and more often self-punish. Those who often act mindfully self-injure more often, they show more self-compassion and report less severe injuries and less lethal methods. Mindfulness-based interventions might be useful in increasing mindfulness and decreasing self-injuring behaviour in psychiatric patients.