Vulnerable children are deliberately self-harming to stay in care, according to new research that highlights a distressing pattern among young people in the system.
Research findings
The study, conducted by researchers at the University of Oxford, found that some children injure themselves as a strategy to prevent being moved from their current care placements. The research, published in the journal Child Abuse & Neglect, involved interviews with 40 children aged 10 to 17 who were in residential care or foster care.
According to the findings, children described using self-harm as a way to communicate their distress and to influence placement decisions. One child said, "I did it so they wouldn't move me." Another said, "It was the only way I could get them to listen."
Implications for care system
The researchers said the findings suggest that children's self-harm is often a response to instability and a lack of control over their lives. They called for greater attention to the emotional needs of children in care and for more stable placements to reduce the need for such extreme measures.
The study's lead author, Dr. Sarah Jones, said, "These children are using self-harm as a form of communication. They feel powerless, and this is their way of trying to influence what happens to them." She added, "We need to listen to what they are telling us and address the underlying issues that lead to this behavior."
The research comes amid growing concerns about the well-being of children in the care system, with many facing multiple placement moves and a lack of emotional support.
