Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Eating Disorders pp 255–272Cite as

Peer Influences on Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Disordered Eating

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Abstract

In this chapter, we review models of peer influence and discuss the role of peer relationships in the onset and maintenance of disordered eating and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) during adolescence. Evidence suggests that unhealthy dieting and NSSI may be engaged in as a direct response to criticism from peers. This type of peer victimization may also increase negative affect, making emotion regulation more challenging which could increase self-harm. In addition to peer victimization, self-harm may develop through modeling, reinforcement, attempts to gain popularity, or other social mechanisms. Homophily effects are well documented, but additional longitudinal research is needed to better understand the mechanisms of peer influence on self-harm. Future research is also needed to address whether the co-occurrence of disordered eating and NSSI may be due to shared mechanisms of peer influence. The protective effects of peer relationships are also discussed along with clinical implications including strategies for prevention and intervention.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   64.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Adrian, M., Zeman, J., Erdley, C. A., Lisa, L., & Sim, L. (2011). Emotional dysregulation and interpersonal difficulties as risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescent girls. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 39, 389–400.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Allen, J. B., Porter, M. R., & MacFarland, F. C. (2006). Leaders and followers in adolescent close friendships: Susceptibility to peer influence as a predictor of risky behavior, friendship instability, and depression. Development and Psychopathology, 18, 155–172.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Berndt, T. J. (1979). Developmental changes in conformity to parents and peers. Developmental Psychology, 15, 608–616.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown, B. B., Bakken, J. P., Ameringer, S. W., & Mahon, S. D. (2008). A comprehensive conceptualization of the peer influence process in adolescence. In M. J. Prinstein & K. A. Dodge (Eds.), Understanding peer influence in children and adolescents (pp. 17–44). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bukowski, W. M., Hoza, B., & Boivin, M. (1993). Popularity, friendship, and emotional adjustment during early adolescence. New Directions for Child Development, 60, 23–37.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cash, T. F. (1995). Developmental teasing about physical appearance: Retrospective descriptions and relationships with body image. Social Behavior and Personality, 23, 123–129.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cattarin, J., & Thompson, J. K. (1994). A three year longitudinal study of body image and eating disturbance in adolescent females. Eating Disorders, 2, 114–125.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, G. L., & Prinstein, M. J. (2006). Peer contagion of aggression and health risk behavior among adolescent males: An experimental investigation of effects on public conduct and private attitudes. Child Development, 77, 967–983.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crandall, C. S. (1988). Social contagion of binge eating. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 55, 588–598.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Crick, N. R., & Grotpeter, J. K. (1996). Children’s maltreatment by peers: Victims of relational aggression. Development and Psychopathology, 8, 367–380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Diliberto, T. L., & Nock, M. K. (2008). An exploratory study of correlates, onset, and offset of non-suicidal self-injury. Archives of Suicide Research, 12, 219–231.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dishion, T. J., McCord, J., & Poulin, F. (1999). When interventions harm: Peer groups and problem behavior. American Psychologist, 54, 755–764.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Donaldson, S. I., Graham, J. W., Piccinin, A. M., & Hansen, W. B. (1995). Resistance skills training and onset of alcohol use: Evidence for beneficial and potentially harmful effects in public schools and private Catholic schools. Health Psychology, 14, 291–300.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fairburn, C. G., Doll, H. A., Welch, S. L., Hay, P. J., Davies, B. A., & O’Connor, M. E. (1998). Risk factors for binge eating disorder: A community-based, case–control study. Archives of General Psychiatry, 55, 425–432.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Furman, W., & Buhrmester, D. (1992). Age and sex differences in perceptionsof networks of personal relationships. Child Development, 63, 103–115.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gerner, B., & Wilson, P. D. (2005). The relationship between friendship factors and adolescent girls’ body image concern, body dissatisfaction, and restrained eating. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 37, 313–320.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haines, J., Neumark-Sztainer, D., Eisenberg, M. E., & Hannan, P. J. (2006). Weight teasing and disordered eating behaviors in adolescents: Longitudinal findings from Project EAT (Eating Among Teens). Pediatrics, 117, 209–215.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamm, E. H., & Hilt, L. M. (2013). Nonsuicidal self-injury, relational victimization, and rumination: A mediation model. Poster session presented at the biennial meeting of the Society for Research in Child Development, Seattle, WA.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hawker, D. S. J., & Boulton, M. J. (2000). Twenty years’ research on peer victimization and psychosocial maladjustment: A meta-analytic review of cross-sectional studies. Journal of Clinical Psychology and Psychiatry, 41, 441–455.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, N. L., Ross, S., Toste, J. R., Charlebois, A., & Nedecheva, T. (2009). Retrospective analysis of social factors and nonsuicidal self-injury among young adults. Canadian Journal of Behavioural Sciences, 41, 180–186.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heilbron, N., & Prinstein, M. J. (2010). Adolescent peer victimization, peer status, suicidal ideation, and nonsuicidal self-injury: Examining concurrent and longitudinal associations. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 56, 388–419.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilt, L. M., Cha, C. B., & Nolen-Hoeksema, S. (2008). Nonsuicidal self-injury in young adolescent girls: Moderators of the distress-function relationship. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76, 63–71.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hilt, L. M., Nock, M. K., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., & Prinstein, M. J. (2008). Longitudinal study of an interpersonal model of non-suicidal self-injury among young adolescents. Journal of Early Adolescence, 28, 455–469.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hodges, E., Boivin, M., Vitaro, F., & Bukowski, W. M. (1999). The power of friendship: Protecting against an escalating cycle of peer victimization. Developmental Psychology, 35, 94–101.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hutchinson, D. M., & Rapee, R. M. (2007). Do friends share similar body image and eating problems? The role of social networks and peer influences in early adolescence. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 45, 1557–1577.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kandel, D. B. (1978). Homophily, selection, and socialization in adolescent friendships. American Journal of Sociology, 84, 427–436.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • La Greca, A. M., Prinstein, M. J., & Fetter, M. D. (2001). Adolescent peer crowd affiliation: Linkages with health-risk behaviors and close friendships. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 26, 131–143.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, R. M., & Lerner, J. V. (1977). The effects of age, sex, and physical attractiveness on child-peer relations, academic performance, and elementary school adjustment. Developmental Psychology, 13, 585–590.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lieberman, M., Gauvin, L., Bukowski, W. M., & White, D. R. (2001). Interpersonal influence and disordered eating behaviors in adolescent girls: The role of peer modeling, social reinforcement and body-related teasing. Eating Behaviors, 2, 215–236.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mackey, E. R., & La Greca, A. M. (2007). Adolescents’ eating, exercise, and weight control behaviors: Does peer crowd affiliation play a role? Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 32, 13–23.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, T. A., & Gast, J. (2008). The effects of peer influence on disordered eating behaviour. Journal of School Nursing, 24, 36–42.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Meyer, C., & Waller, G. (2001). Social convergence of disturbed eating attitudes in young adult women. Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease, 189, 114–119.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., Claes, L., Havertape, L., & Plener, P. (2012). International prevalence of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury and deliberate self-harm. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 6, 10.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2004). A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior in adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 72, 885–890.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K., & Prinstein, M. J. (2005). Contextual features and behavioral functions of self-mutilation among adolescents. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 114, 140–146.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oliver, K. K., & Thelan, M. H. (1996). Children’s perceptions of peer influence on eating concerns. Behavior Therapy, 27, 25–39.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Olweus, D. (1994). Bullying at school: Basic facts and effects of a school based intervention program. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 35, 1171–1190.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Paxton, S. J., Schutz, H. K., Wertheim, E. H., & Muir, S. L. (1999). Friendship clique and peer influences on body image concerns, dietary restraint, extreme weight-loss behaviors, and binge eating in adolescent girls. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 108, 255–266.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Phillipov, M. M. (2006). Self-harm in Goth youth subculture: Study merely reinforces popular stereotypes. British Medical Journal, 332, 1215–1216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pike, K. M. (1995). Bulimic symptomatology in high school girls. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 19, 373–396.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prinstein, M. J., Boergers, J., & Vernberg, E. M. (2001). Overt and relational aggression in adolescents: Social-psychological functioning of aggressors and victims. Journal of Clinical Child Psychology, 30, 477–489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Prinstein, J. J., & Dodge, K. A. (2008). Current issues in peer influence research. In M. J. Prinstein & K. A. Dodge (Eds.), Understanding peer influence in children and adolescents (pp. 3–13). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Prinstein, M. J., Guerry, J. D., Browne, C. B., & Rancourt, D. (2009). Interpersonal models of nonsuicidal self-injury. In M. K. Nock (Ed.), Understanding nonsuicidal self-injury: Origins, assessment, and treatment (pp. 79–98). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Prinstein, M. J., Heilbron, N., Guerry, J. D., Franklin, J. C., Rancourt, D., Simon, V., et al. (2010). Peer influence and nonsuicidal self-injury: Longitudinal results in community and clinically-referred adolescent samples. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 38, 669–682.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rathus, J. H., & Miller, A. L. (2002). Dialectical behavior therapy adapted for suicidal adolescents. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 32, 146–157.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Robins, C. J., & Chapman, A. L. (2004). Dialectical behavior therapy: Current status, recent developments and future directions. Journal of Personality Disorders, 18, 73–89.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rodham, K., & Hawton, K. (2009). Epidemiology and phenomenology of nonsuicidal self-injury. In M. K. Nock (Ed.), Understanding nonsuicidal self-injury (pp. 37–62). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosen, P. M., & Walsh, B. W. (1989). Patterns of contagion in self-mutilation epidemics. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 146, 656–658.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, K. D. (2002). Gender differences in emotional responses to interpersonal stress during adolescence. Journal of Adolescent Health, 30, 3–13.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, K. D., & Conley, C. S. (2005). The socioemotional costs and benefits of social-evaluative concern: Do girls care too much? Journal of Personality, 73, 115–138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Rudolph, K. D., & Hammen, C. (1999). Age and gender as determinants of stress exposure, generation, and reactions in youngsters: A transactional perspective. Child Development, 70, 660–677.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Schutz, H., & Paxton, S. (2007). Friendship quality, body dissatisfaction, dieting and disordered eating in adolescent girls. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 46, 67–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shisslak, C. M., & Crago, M. (2001). Risk and protective factors in the development of eating disorders. In J. K. Thompson & L. Smolak (Eds.), Body image, eating disorders, and obesity in youth: Assessment, prevention, and treatment (pp. 103–125). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Shroff, H., & Thompson, J. K. (2006). Peer influences, body image dissatisfaction, eating dysfunction and self-esteem in adolescent girls. Journal of Health Psychology, 11, 533–551.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Steinberg, L. (2005). Cognitive and affective development in adolescence. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9, 69–74.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E. (1998). Modeling of eating pathology and social reinforcement of the think ideal predict onset of bulimic symptoms. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 36, 931–944.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stice, E., Presnell, K., & Spangler, D. (2002). Risk factors for binge eating onset in adolescent girls: A 2-year prospective investigation. Health Psychology, 21, 131–138.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, J. K., Cattarin, J., Fowler, H., & Fisher, E. (1995). The Perception of Teasing Scale (POTS): A revision and extension of the Physical Appearance Related Teasing Scale (PARTS). Journal of Personality Assessment, 65, 146–157.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tiaminen, T. J., Kallio-Soukainen, K., Nokso-Koivisto, H., Kaljonen, A., & Kelenius, H. (1998). Contagion of deliberate self-harm among adolescent inpatients. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 37, 211–217.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vitaro, F., Boivin, M., & Bukowski, W. M. (2008). The role of friendship in child and adolescent psychosocial development. In M. J. Prinstein & K. A. Dodge (Eds.), Understanding peer influence in children and adolescents (pp. 568–585). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vreeman, R. C., & Carroll, A. E. (2007). A systematic review of school-based interventions to prevent bullying. Archives of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, 161, 77–88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang, S. S., Houshyar, S., & Prinstein, M. J. (2006). Adolescent girls’ and boys’ weight-related health behaviors and cognitions: Associations with reputation- and preference-based peer status. Health Psychology, 25, 658–663.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wertheim, E. H., Paxton, S. J., Schutz, H. K., & Muir, S. L. (1997). Why do adolescent girls watch their weight? An interview study examining sociocultural pressures to be thin. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 42, 345–355.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Whitlock, J. L., Powers, J. P., & Eckenrode, J. E. (2006). The virtual cutting edge: Adolescent self-injury and the Internet. Developmental Psychology, 42, 407–417.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, G. T., Grilo, C. M., & Vitousek, K. M. (2007). Psychological treatment of eating disorders. American Psychologist, 62, 199–216.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Young, R., Sweeting, H., & West, P. (2006). Prevalence of deliberate self-harm and attempted suicide within contemporary Goth youth subculture: Longitudinal cohort study. British Medical Journal, 332, 1058–1061.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, Lawrence University, Appleton, WI, USA

    Lori M. Hilt & Emily H. Hamm

Authors
  1. Lori M. Hilt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Emily H. Hamm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lori M. Hilt .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

    Laurence Claes

  2. Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, USA

    Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Hilt, L.M., Hamm, E.H. (2014). Peer Influences on Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Disordered Eating. In: Claes, L., Muehlenkamp, J. (eds) Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Eating Disorders. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40107-7_15

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-40107-7_15

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-40106-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-40107-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation