Background: Self-harming behavior has increased globally and has recently become its own diagnosis in the Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). Methods of self-harm can consist in cutting, burning, hitting and starving yourself. Self-harming behaviors are more frequent among women in a prison environment than in rest of society. Aim: The purpose of this study was to identify risk factors for self-harming behavior among females serving a prison sentence. Method: A literature review was performed and data was collected from eight scientific articles with both quantitative and qualitative approach.

Results: The results were analyzed and compiled into three main themes considering risk factors for self-harm: 1) Social strains and past negative life-experiences, 2) Mental illness and 3) Prison environment. The subthemes describe factors as family relations, age and ethnicity, abuse and traumas in the past; mental stresses, psychiatric diagnosis, substance abuse and withdrawal and relationships; and finally imprisonment, activities and restrictions in the environment and relations. Conclusion: Women who engage in self-harming behavior while serving a prison sentence often carry a problematic background with severe events who has affected them. The prison environment does not support their health and risk factors for self-harming behavior remains and even increases. This study can reinforce increased knowledge about self-harming behavior in women prisons and improve preventive work.