SELF-DESTRUCTIVE BEHAVIOR AND HELP-SEEKING INTENTION OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

This study investigated self-destructive conduct and help-seeking intentions among high school students at the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao, with a focus on the influence of profile characteristics on these behaviors. Utilizing a descriptive correlational research method, 341 students were selected through stratified random sampling, guided by SLOVIN's formula. Data were collected using two instruments: the Risk-Taking and Self-Harm Inventory for Adolescents (RTSHIA) and the General Help-Seeking Questionnaire IV (GHSQ-IV).Findings indicated that the majority of respondents were female, Catholic, and in grade 8, with parents earning over 25,000 pesos monthly. While few respondents engaged in self-destructive conduct, those who did were more inclined towards situational risk-taking and general self-harm. Help-seeking behaviors were primarily directed towards friends, relatives, and intimate partners. Statistical analyses using t-tests and F-tests revealed no significant differences in self-destructive conduct and help-seeking intentions based on sex or parental income. However, grade level significantly influenced both self-destructive behavior and help-seeking intentions. Pearson Product Moment Correlation analysis found no significant correlation between self-destructive behavior and help-seeking intentions. These results highlight the importance of considering grade level in interventions aimed at addressing self-destructive behavior and promoting help-seeking among high school students.