Deliberate Self-harm, Coping Styles, Social Support Among University Students in Jordan

Deliberate self-harm (DSH) is a significant global health concern among university students. Investigating the interplay between coping styles, social support, and DSH is crucial for understanding and predicting DSH in this population. The aims to clarify the complex association among DSH, coping styles, and social support and to quantify the predictive power of coping styles and social support. A cross-sectional, correlational design was used to collect self-reported data from 905 university students in Jordan. The study found that 63.4% of university students engaged in DSH, with varying degrees of severity. Coping styles revealed a predominant reliance on religious and planning coping styles. Social support scores exhibited considerable variability among items, with family support being the highest. Coping styles and social support were found to significantly predict DSH. In conjunction, fostering a culture of open communication and reducing stigma surrounding mental health issues is imperative. This can be achieved through campus-wide awareness campaigns, promoting peer support networks, and engaging in ongoing dialogue to create a nurturing environment for student well-being. These findings contribute to the understanding of DSH among university students and offer opportunities for targeted interventions such as workshops on problem-solving, stress management, and faculty training to enhance student mental health in universities and support strategies to enhance well-being.