Menarche and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Eating Disorder

Abstract

This study aims to examine the relationship between menarche, eating disorder, nonsuicidal self-injury and to investigate the mediating effect of eating disorder on the relationship between menarche and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls (age ranging between 10 to 19 years old) (N=255) from different cities of Punjab, Pakistan through the lens of Objectification Theory. For assessment purpose, Symptom checklist-90 (Shafique & Khalily, 2017) for screening out any psychiatric illness, Menarche Questionnaire (Liu et al., 2018) for menarche, Eating Disorder Diagnostic Scale (Stice &Telch, 2000) and Thoughts and Behaviors Modules of Self Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview Scale (Nock et al., 2007) were used. The first hypothesis of the study was that there will be a significant positive relationship between menarche, eating disorder and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls. Secondly that eating disorder mediates the relationship between menarche and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls. Thirdly, that the adolescent girls with high socio-economic status will have higher risk of developing eating disorders and engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Fourthly that the adolescent girls with low educational level will have higher risk of developing eating disorders and engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. Results suggest that a significant positive relationship between menarche, eating disorder and non-suicidal self-injury exists and menarche and eating disorder significantly predict non-suicidal self-injury. Furthermore, eating disorder significantly mediates the relationship between menarche and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls. Better understanding of menarche and its negative consequences can help deal with and prevent negative consequences in one’s life.