Prospective Interpersonal and Intrapersonal Predictors of Initiation and Cessation of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Chinese Adolescents.

Yemiao Gao,Xia Liu,Quanquan Wang,Zixun Chen,Hui Wang

doi:10.3390/ijerph17249454

Abstract

(1) Purpose: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) possibly emerges as well as remits in adolescence. To explore the development and transition of NSSI, this study examined the association between a wide range of interpersonal and intrapersonal predictors of NSSI initiation and cessation. (2) Methods: Chinese adolescents (N = 913) completed self-reported surveys at baseline and at a six-month follow-up. The sample included 625 adolescents who reported no NSSI and 288 adolescents who reported engagement in NSSI at baseline. (3) Results: Among the adolescents without NSSI at baseline, 24.3% engaged in NSSI at follow-up (NSSI initiation group). Among the adolescents with NSSI at baseline, 33.3% reported no NSSI at follow-up (NSSI cessation group). Loneliness, beliefs about adversity, problem behavior, and prosocial behavior were the significant factors in predicting subsequent NSSI initiation. None of the potential predicting factors were associated with subsequent NSSI cessation. (4) Conclusions: These results indicate the importance of intrapersonal factors in Chinese culture, which could be used to identify at-risk adolescents and to design interventions.

Highlights

IntroductionNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional damage to one’s body tissue (e.g., scraping the skin and self-battery) without suicidal intent [1]
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional damage to one’s body tissue without suicidal intent [1]
Participants who reported a transition to NSSI had higher levels of subjective SES than those that remained without NSSI

Summary

Introduction

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional damage to one’s body tissue (e.g., scraping the skin and self-battery) without suicidal intent [1]. Various studies have found that the lifetime prevalence of NSSI in nonclinical adolescents is as high as 17–23% [4,5], and NSSI among nonclinical adolescents constitutes a major public health concern. Given that even a single incident of NSSI remains a harmful dysregulated behavior that has a long-lasting and detrimental effect on an adolescent’s well-being [6], numerous studies have been dedicated to finding the risk factors of NSSI initiation among adolescents [7,8,9,10]. An understanding of the psychosocial correlates of NSSI initiation and cessation helps to identify adolescents at risk for new engagement in NSSI and to design early preventative interventions for these groups, and to elucidate key factors that could be targeted for therapy

Objectives

Results

Discussion

Conclusion