Effectiveness of Differential Reinforcement of Other Behaviors in Reducing Non-suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors in Adolescents

Message:
Article Type:
Research/Original Article (دارای رتبه معتبر)
Abstract:
Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of differential reinforcement of other behaviors in reducing non-suicidal self-injury behaviors in adolescents.

Methods

A single-subject A-B-A-B design was used in this study. The statistical population included male adolescents with self-injurious behaviors, the families of whom were seeking treatment for these behaviors. In total, four adolescents were recruited from a psychology clinic in Tehran, Iran, using convenience sampling. Participants were observed at 6, 8, 10, and 12 sessions at baseline phases of A1 and A2, followed by 12 intervention sessions after each baseline phase. The intervention included differential reinforcement of other behaviors. If the participants showed no self-injury behavior within a specific time duration, a reward was provided. Non-suicidal self-injury behaviors included self-harm, hair pulling, severe itching, pinching, wound manipulation, and hand biting. The frequency of these behaviors was assessed during each session. Visual analysis of graphed data, percentage of non-overlapping data, and mean percentage improvement were used for data analysis.

Results

The results showed a fairly reliable effect for the intervention on reducing the target behavior, as indicated by a frequency reduction from phase A1 to B1 and A2 to B2 and by a frequency elevation by the intervention withdrawal from B1 to A2. The average percentage reduction across participants was obtained at 56%. However, a low rate of self-injury remained consistent for the participants.

Conclusion

The results provided further evidence on the effectiveness of differential reinforcement of other behaviors in reducing self-injury behaviors. Although the intervention could reduce self-injury substantially, it seemed that it could not eliminate the behavior.

Language:
English
Published:
Iranian Red Crescent Medical Journal, Volume:23 Issue: 10, Oct 2021
Page:
872
https://www.magiran.com/p2340963  
سامانه نویسندگان
  • Ghobari Bonab، Bagher
    Author (3)
    Ghobari Bonab, Bagher
    (1371) دکتری روانشناسی کودکان استثنایی، واسکانسین کدیسون، آمریکا
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