School librarian self-censorship study

A recent study examined self-censorship of controversial topics in collection development. Articles can be accessed for free at www.ala.org/aasl/slr.

In the recently published “To Add or Not to Add: An Examination of Self‐Censoring Behaviors among School Librarians,” Jennifer Moore and Alissa Tudor present a study examining collection development and self-censorship amongst school librarians. The researchers collected data via surveys, and examined which controversial or frequently challenged topics school librarians chose not to collect. This research found that amongst controversial topics, there were high amounts of self-censorship around books that dealt with sexual content, abortion, and self-harm. Respondents who had never experienced book challenges in their school libraries expressed reluctance to include books that involved sexual content and LGBTQ themes or content

Moore, J., & Tudor, A. (2024). To Add or not to add: An examination of self‐censoring behaviors among school librarians. School Library Research. 

www.ala.org/aasl/slr

Teens are Cyberbullying Themselves

According to a survey of middle and high school students in the United States, teens are bullying themselves online as a way to manage feelings of sadness and self-hatred and to gain attention from their friends. The researchers concluded that digital self-harm is a new problem that demands additional scholarly attention. A deeper inquiry as to the motivations behind this behavior, and how it correlates to offline self-harm and suicidal ideation, can help direct mental health professionals toward informed prevention approaches.

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2017). Digital self-harm among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(6), 761-766. https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2017.06.012

Outcomes of Self Harm in Adolescents

Researchers examined the outcomes of adolescents who self harm in a general population sample, and whether the outcomes differ according to self reported suicidal intent. Adolescents who self harm seem to be vulnerable to a range of adverse outcomes in early adulthood. Risks were generally stronger in those who had self harmed with suicidal intent, but outcomes were also poor among those who had self harmed without suicidal intent. These findings emphasize the need for early identification and treatment of adolescents who self harm.

Mars, B. (2014). Clinical and social outcomes of adolescent self harm: Population based birth cohort study. BMJ, 349. https://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g5954

Digital Self-Harm – Causes, Trends, and Risks

This study explores the extent of digital self-harm among adolescents. The findings showed that boys were more likely to report digital self-harm, and the risk of digital self-harm was three times higher among non-heterosexual youths and 12 times higher among those who were cyberbullying victims. Only a small number of students have anonymously posted something online about themselves that was mean. Males were significantly more likely to report participation than females. Other factors found to be involved in self-harm included sexual orientation, experience with school bullying and cyberbullying, drug use, participation in various forms of adolescent deviance, and depressive symptoms. Importance of this research shows that digital self-harm is a new problem that demands additional scholarly attention. A deeper inquiry as to the motivations behind this behavior, and how it correlates to offline self-harm and suicidal ideation, can help direct mental health professionals toward informed prevention approaches.

Patchin, J. W., & Hinduja, S. (2017). Digital self-harm among adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 61(6), 761-766.