Assessment Of Nonsuicidal Self-injury Research Articles

Longitudinal relations between non-suicidal self-injury and both depression and anxiety among senior high school adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis

Background Comorbidity between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depression and anxiety was common. In the framework of network theory, the examination of directionality and gender differences in longitudinal relationships at the symptom level made a significant contribution to the understanding of comorbidity. Therefore, this study employed cross-lagged panel network analysis to investigate the longitudinal interrelations between NSSI and depression and anxiety in Chinese adolescents, with a focus on gender differences. Method The study was conducted with a sample of 884 senior high school students (F/M: 481/403; mean age: 15.19 ± 0.48 years) from Jinchang City, Gansu Province, China. All respondents completed the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire and the two subscales (depression and anxiety) of the Brief Symptom Inventory at two intervals. The data were estimated in R 4.2.0 to construct the cross-lagged panel network (CLPN). Results The CLPN results uncovered the gender differences. For boys, self-hitting and feeling scared emerged as central symptoms. Cutting predicted subsequent feelings of sadness (β = − 0.57), tension (β = − 0.52) and indifference (β = − 0.49), potentially serving as a bridge connecting NSSI to depression and anxiety. For girls, biting themselves and feeling scared were central symptoms. Carving and skin rubbing predicted subsequent feelings of indifference (β = − 0.31, −0.21), bridging NSSI to depression and anxiety. In addition, feeling scared emerged as the key bridge symptom connecting depression and anxiety. Conclusion The findings showed the gender-specific developmental characteristics of the directional relations between NSSI and depression and anxiety at the symptom level. They provided new insights into the comorbidity of NSSI and depression and anxiety, carrying important implications for the screening and intervention of adolescent NSSI.

The impact of depressive and anxious symptoms on non-suicidal self-injury behavior in adolescents: a network analysis

PurposeConceptualizing adolescent NSSI and emotional symptoms as a system of causal elements could provide valuable insights into the development of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescent. This study aimed to explore the intricate relationship between NSSI, depressive symptoms, and anxious symptoms in adolescents, identifying key symptoms to establish a theoretical foundation for targeted and effective interventions addressing NSSI behaviors in this population.MethodsA total of 412 adolescents with NSSI behaviors were selected from outpatients. Generalized anxious disorder scale (GAD-7) and patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) were employed to measure anxious symptoms and depressive symptoms, respectively. The adolescent non-suicidal self-injury assessment questionnaire (ANSSIAQ) was used to evaluate NSSI of adolescent. Using network analysis, the NSSI、depressive symptoms and anxious symptoms network were constructed to identify the most central symptoms and the bridge symptoms within the networks.ResultsThe findings revealed that the NSSI functional nodes “coping with sadness and disappointment” and “relieving stress or anxious” exhibited the strongest correlation, with a regularized partial correlation coefficient was 0.401. The symptoms “having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop” and the node “depressive symptoms” had the highest strength centrality in the network, and their strength centrality indices were 1.267 and 1.263, respectively. The bridge nodes were “having a desire to harm oneself and unable to stop” and “expressing one’s despair and hopelessness”, with expected impact indices of 0.389 and 0.396, respectively.ConclusionIn adolescents, the network revealed a closer connection between NSSI and depressive symptoms. “The desire to not stop hurting oneself” is not only broadly connected to other nodes but also could activate other nodes to maintain NSSI behavior. In light of these findings, precise targets for pharmacological treatment, psychotherapy, physical therapy, etc., are identified for adolescents with NSSI. Targeting this specific aspect in interventions may contribute to preventing and reducing NSSI behavior in adolescents.

Prediction of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents at the family level using regression methods and machine learning

BackgroundAdolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major public health issue. Family factors are significantly associated with NSSI in adolescents, while studies on forecasting NSSI at the family level are still limited. In addition to regression methods, machine learning (ML) techniques have been recommended to improve the accuracy of family-level risk prediction for NSSI. MethodsUsing a dataset of 7967 students and their primary caregivers from a cross-sectional study, logistic regression model and random forest model were used to test the forecasting accuracy of NSSI predictions at the family level. Cross-validation was used to assess model prediction performance, including the area under the receiver operator curve (AUC), precision, Brier score, accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. ResultsThe top three important family-related predictors within the random forest algorithm included family function (importance:42.66), family conflict (importance:42.18), and parental depression (importance:27.21). The most significant family-related risk predictors and protective predictors identified by the logistic regression model were family history of mental illness (OR:2.25) and help-seeking behaviors of mental distress from parents (OR:0.65), respectively. The AUCs of the two models, logistic regression and random forest, were 0.852 and 0.835, respectively. LimitationsThe key limitation is that this cross-sectional survey only enabled the authors to examine predictors that were considered to be proximal rather than distal. ConclusionsThese findings highlight the significance of family-related factors in forecasting NSSI in adolescents. Combining both conventional statistical methods and ML methods to improve risk assessment of NSSI at the family level deserves attention.

Methods and functions of non-suicidal self-injury in an adolescent and young adult clinical sample

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging critical medical condition among adolescents and young adults worldwide. They use different methods for expressing their emotional needs. The aim of this study was to identify the methods of NSSI used by adolescents and young adults who presented with different psychiatric disorders, and their utilized functions.Subjects/materials and methodsA case–control study was done on 100 late adolescent and young adult patients who attended Suez Canal University with psychiatric disorders. Sociodemographic data was obtained then they were assessed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview and the Brief Non-suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Tool.ResultsAmong the case group, 54% used scratching for self-harm while 36% used cutting. The most common body areas were hands (44%) and arms (42%). Eighty percent of the case group endorsed non-suicidal self-harm for dealing with anger, while 78% to cope with uncomfortable feelings and 72% to relieve stress with no statistically significant difference between males or females, nor among psychiatric comorbidities.ConclusionThe most common method of NSSI was scratching and it was followed by cutting and banging. The most common body areas were hands and arms. Patients endorsed NSSI for various motives and several functions. However, Items on the automatic negative reinforcement scales were the most common functions, especially when dealing with anger.

Risk Prediction Model for Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Chinese Adolescents with Major Depressive Disorder Based on Machine Learning.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant social issue, especially among adolescents with major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to construct a risk prediction model using machine learning (ML) algorithms, such as XGBoost and random forest, to identify interventions for healthcare professionals working with adolescents with MDD. This study investigated 488 adolescents with MDD. Adolescents was randomly divided into 75% training set and 25% test set to testify the predictive value of risk prediction model. The prediction model was constructed using XGBoost and random forest algorithms. We evaluated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, recall, F Score of the two models for comparing the performance of the two models. There were 161 (33.00%) participants having NSSI. Compared without NSSI, there were statistically significant differences in gender (P=0.035), age (P=0.036), depressive symptoms (P=0.042), sleep quality (P=0.030), dysfunctional attitudes (P=0.048), childhood trauma (P=0.046), interpersonal problems (P=0.047), psychoticism (P) (P=0.049), neuroticism (N) (P=0.044), punishing and Severe (F2) (P=0.045) and Overly-intervening and Protecting (M2) (P=0.047) with NSSI. The AUC values for random forest and XGBoost were 0.780 and 0.807, respectively. The top five most important risk predictors identified by both machine learning methods were dysfunctional attitude, childhood trauma, depressive symptoms, F2 and M2. The study demonstrates the suitability of prediction models for predicting NSSI behavior in Chinese adolescents with MDD based on ML. This model improves the assessment of NSSI in adolescents with MDD by health care professionals working. This provides a foundation for focused prevention and interventions by health care professionals working with these adolescents.

The relationship between childhood maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents with depressive disorders

This study aims to explore the core symptoms of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in adolescents with depressive disorders and the relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and NSSI symptoms by using network analysis. A total of 689 adolescents with depressive disorders participated in the survey. The Chinese version of the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSAQ) and the Short Form of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF) were employed to measure NSSI and the symptoms of CM, respectively. Using network analysis, the NSSI network and the CM-NSSI network were constructed to identify the most central symptoms and the bridge symptoms within the networks. Within the NSSI network, "Intentional scratches", " Intentionally hitting hard objects with your head ", " Intentionally hitting oneself with fists or harder objects ", and " Intentional pinching " were identified as the primary symptoms of NSSI. "emotional abuse", "sexual abuse", and " Intentionally cut yourself " emerged as three key bridge symptoms linking CM with NSSI. This research is the first to investigate the symptom network of CM-NSSI in a sample of adolescents with depressive disorders, providing a foundation for subsequent NSSI prevention and the development of targeted intervention strategies.

Nonsuicidal self-injury characteristics: A mixed methods analysis of differences between veterans and civilians

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a well-established risk factor for suicidal behavior, with certain NSSI characteristics being associated with increased risk. In the United States (U.S.), the veteran suicide rate is elevated, though lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI appear similar between veterans and civilians. There is limited research that directly compares veterans and civilians across multiple NSSI characteristics to examine between-group differences in NSSI behavior and provide important context for the application of NSSI research with the veteran population. This study examined differences between U.S. veterans and civilians with a history of suicidal ideation across several NSSI characteristics, including method, severity, age of onset, shame, distress, and reason for initial NSSI engagement. A sample of 527 veterans and civilians completed measures of direct and indirect NSSI behaviors along with supplemental questions designed to further assess endorsed NSSI behaviors. Additionally, respondents provided written responses to an open-ended question about their reasons for initial engagement in NSSI, which were coded for post-hoc analysis. Chi-square difference tests and t-tests were conducted, revealing significant group differences between veterans and civilians in NSSI method, lifetime versatility, age of onset, age at last occurrence, and reasons for initial engagement. No significant differences were found in NSSI frequency, severity, shame, or distress. These findings provide valuable information on similarities and differences in NSSI behavior characteristics between U.S. veterans and civilians with lifetime suicidal ideation to inform future research and the assessment of NSSI in these populations.

The Relationship Between Depression and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: The Mediating Roles of Distress Intolerance and Perceived Social Support, the Moderating Role of Gender

ABSTRACT Depression has a substantial effect on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The present study investigates the mediating effects of distress intolerance and perceived social support in the relationship between depression and NSSI, and the moderator effect of gender in this relationship. One of which is the risk factor and the other is the protective factor. In total, 533 university students (% 70 female) were examined. The brief NSSI assessment tool was used to assess NSSI. Depressive symptoms were examined in DASS21, and Distress Intolerance Scale was used to examine tolerance toward negative emotions. Finally, the Perceived Social Support scale was used to assess perceived social support. The current study investigated the prevalence of NSSI was 76,2%. To analyze hypothesis of the study, Structural Equation Model (SEM) was used. Results of this analysis show that distress intolerance has a positive mediator role and perceived social support has a buffer mediator role in the relationship between depression and NSSI. Also, gender has a moderator role in the relationship between depression and NSSI. The findings of the study revealed that depression and distress intolerance are important risks for NSSI, and perceived social support is protective. This study improves understanding of mechanisms involved in NSSI by interrelating significant personal and social risk and protective factors. The clinical application of these findings was also discussed.

Implicit Assessment of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: Group Differences in Temporal Stability of the Self-Injury Implicit Association Test (SI-IAT)

Objective We examine differences on the Self-Injury Implicit Association Test (SI-IAT) by history of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), in a test-retest design, to examine short-term temporal stability of SI-IAT scores. Method Treatment-seeking participants (N = 113; 58% female; 89% White; Mage = 30.57) completed the SI-IAT and self-report measures at two time points (M Timeframe = 3.8 days). Results Data suggested NSSI (51% of the sample endorsed lifetime NSSI) was related to Time 1 (T1) identity and attitude, and affected stability of scores. T1 and T2 SI-IAT identity and attitude were more strongly related for participants with NSSI history. NSSI characteristics (recency; number of methods) affected stability. Conclusions The short-term test-retest reliability of the SI-IAT is strong among those with NSSI history from T1 to T2. However, the SI-IATs use with participants without a history of NSSI was not supported beyond its established ability to differentiate between groups by NSSI history. This test may provide clinically-relevant assessment among those with a history of NSSI.

The Perspectives of Health Care Providers on Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Objective This study examined the perspectives and strategies of care providers when managing adolescent non-suicidal self-injury in residential and acute inpatient units throughout the Midwest region. NSSI frequency, intensity, duration, onset, method, location, and interventions were examined, among other topics including care provider attitudes, service delivery type, ways to reduce NSSI behaviors, and whether any NSSI-specific interventions are used in psychiatric settings. Method Surveys were disseminated to nurses, practitioners, and clinicians at psychiatric hospitals in the Midwest region. All questions used free text responses and were developed from the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT), the SOARS Model, and Clinician-Rated Severity of Non-suicidal Self-Injury Scale. Results The findings underscored the high incidence of NSSI among adolescent patients, highlighting the urgent need for creating hospital trainings and best practices for NSSI, among other topics such as routine physical check-ins and enhanced NSSI-specific interventions. Conclusion There is a concerning gap in the number of NSSI-specific interventions used by care providers in psychiatric inpatient facilities in the Midwest region of the United States. The need for targeted treatment, training, and programming for adolescent NSSI is essential.

Suicidal Behaviors Among Emerging Adults in Kenyan Universities

This study examined the prevalence of suicidal thinking, planning, attempts, and self-harm and the associated psychological stressors in two Kenyan universities. The participants were undergraduate university students aged (18 -29) years. A convergent mixed-method study design was adopted to collect data. Self-administered questionnaires and focus group discussions were carried out among 431 students and six university counselors participated in a three-round Delphi survey. The study instruments were adopted from the Suicide Assessment Five-Step Evaluation & Triage (SAFE-T), Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS), Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Tool (NSSI-AT), and Emerging Adult Stress Inventory (EASI). A multivariate analysis (MANOVA) was performed. The prevalence rate of suicidal thinking was 17.1%, suicidal planning 5.9%, suicidal attempts 7.8%, and self-harm 5.5%. Female students and private university students have a high prevalence of all suicidal behaviors. Feeling hopeless and depressed, financial difficulty, feeling anxious, family conflicts, and academic challenges were psychological stressors compelling emerging adults to suicidal behaviors. The prevalence of suicidal behaviors was like that found in other studies carried out in other countries. Suicidal behaviors are associated with mental illness symptoms. This should be considered by peers, parents, and university counselors to prevent and intervene in suicidal behaviors.

Influence of in-person and remote Satir family therapy on emotions and behavior of adolescents with major depressive disorder

BackgroundMajor depressive disorder in adolescents is characterized by high prevalence rate, high recurrence rate, high suicide rate and high disability rate. However, the recognition rate and cure rate are low, and the disease has a very bad influence on the family and society. The lack of psychiatrists and psychotherapists in villages and small towns makes it difficult to get timely and professional intervention and treatment for adolescent with major depressive disorder. MethodsA total of 84 adolescents with major depressive disorder who received treatment in the department of psychosomatic medicine of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University participated in this survey, and they were divided into the control group and the intervention group by random number table. Adolescent Non-suicidal Self-injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSSIAQ), Self-rating Questionnaire for Adolescent Problematic Mobile Phone Use (SQAPMPU), Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) and Depression Self-Rating Scale for Childhood (DSRS) were used to investigate the negative emotions and behavior of adolescents with major depressive disorder at baseline and intervention for 12 weeks. ResultsThere were no significant differences in the baseline information of adolescents (sex ratio, age, education level), including the total score of SCARED, DSRS and SQAPMPU, the total mean score of ANSSIAQ between the two groups (P > 0.05). After 12-week intervention, the score of SCARED, DSRS and SQAPMPU, the total mean score of ANSSIAQ in both groups were lower than that of the baseline, and the score of the intervention group showed a more obvious downward trend (P < 0.05). ConclusionsIn-person and remote Satir family therapy not only effectively reduced the anxiety and depression level among participants, but also validly reduced their non-suicidal self-injury behavior and mobile phone use behavior. The results verified that the model we adopted can be well applied for the out-patient management of adolescents with major depressive disorder, especially in villages and small towns.

The relationship between emotional neglect and non-suicidal self-injury among middle school students in China: the mediating role of social anxiety symptoms and insomnia

BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a vital public concern around the world, and it often starts in adolescence. Emotional neglect (EN) has been considered a distal risk factor for NSSI, but the effects of social anxiety symptoms (SA) and insomnia on this relationship have remained unclear. This study aimed to investigate the potential pathways from EN to NSSI, examining the role of SA and insomnia in this association.MethodsOne thousand three hundred thirty seven Chinese middle school students (Mage = 13.040, SD = 0.981, 50.2% males) in China were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Participants completed the Emotional Neglect sub-scale of Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-SF), the Social Anxiety Scale for Adolescent (SAS-A), Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) and non-suicidal self-injury assessment. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was used to test the possible mediation model among these variables.Results231(17.3%) students reported NSSI history during last year and 322 (24.1%) participants reported experiences of EN. Students who experienced EN have higher rates of NSSI compared to students without EN history (29.2% vs 13.5%). EN, SA, insomnia and NSSI were positively related to each other. Furthermore, both SA and insomnia played a mediating role in the relationship between EN and NSSI, the series mediating effect of SA and insomnia on this association was also significant after controlling for demographics. Indirect effects accounted for 58.26% of the total effects (EN → NSSI).ConclusionsOur study revealed that EN was associated with NSSI, SA and insomnia play indirect roles in the association between EN and NSSI. The findings of our research may have implications for clinicians, families, and schools in their efforts to lower the risk of NSSI in adolescents.

High-risk group and functional subtypes of non-suicidal self-injury in young adults with mental disorders.

Identifying high-risk groups of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) with multiple risk factors and different functional subtypes contribute to implementing person-centered interventions. We investigated NSSI profiles among a sample of 258 psychiatric inpatients aged 18-25 years. All participants completed well-validated measures of internal personal and external environmental characteristics. One-hundred and ninety patients reported a lifetime history of NSSI and completed an additional NSSI assessment. A k-means cluster analysis was conducted to extract characteristics of risk factors and functional subtypes. Independent sample t-test, analysis of variance and χ 2 test were used to test the difference of demographic statistical factors, risk factors and functional scores among groups with different frequency of NSSI. The clustering of risk factors analyses supported 4-clusters. The proportion of repeat NSSI patients was the highest (67.1%) in the group with unfavorable personal and unfavorable environmental characteristics. Functional subtype clustering analyses supported 5-clusters. Among patients with repeated NSSI, those with depression were mainly accompanied by the "Sensation Seeking" subtype (39.7%), bipolar disorder mainly supported the "Anti-suicide" subtype (37.9%), and eating disorders were mostly "Social Influence" subtype (33.3%). There was an interaction between functional subtypes and mental disorders. All participants were in treatment in a psychiatric service and the results may not be generalizable to a community sample. The data included retrospective self-report which may be inaccurate due to recall bias. It is necessary to identify high-risk groups of NSSI who with unfavorable personal and environmental characteristics and clinical interventions need to consider the heterogeneity of patients' functional subtypes of NSSI.

Psychometric Properties for Persian Version of the Ottawa Self-injury Inventory-functions Among Adolescents

Objectives Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an issue primarily of concern in adolescents and young adults. The Ottawa self-Injury inventory (OSI) is a self-report measure that offers a comprehensive assessment of NSSI, including the measurement of its functions and addictive features. Thus, this study evaluated the psychometric properties of the Ottawa self-Injury inventory-functions (OSI-F) for assessing NSSI for gifted adolescents. Methods In this correlational study, 350 gifted adolescents who were selected using the convenience sampling method, answered the OSI-F, the short version of the self-harm screening inventory for adolescents, the depression, anxiety and stress scale, and the psychological capital questionnaire. Results The results of confirmatory factor analysis in line with the results of other studies supported the factor structure consisting of four factors. The model showed significant correlations between factors (rs=0.55-0.75, p&lt;0.001). The results of the confirmatory factor analysis also confirmed the factor structure of the addictive characteristics of self-injurious behaviors. All the items had significant path estimates (0.42 to 0.83). Cronbach’s alpha for factors of internal emotional regulation, social influence, external emotional regulation, and sensation seeking in the scale of self-injurious behavior functions was equal to 0.86, 0.87, 0.64, and 0.72, respectively, and for the scale of addictive characteristics was 0.87. Convergent validity of scales of functions and addictive characteristics of self-injurious behavior was obtained through the relationship with scores in scales of anxiety, depression, stress, and deliberate self-injurious behaviors, as well as psychological capital factors. Conclusion Results showed preliminary psychometric support for the OSI as a valid and reliable assessment tool to be used in both research and clinical contexts.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Thoughts and Behavior in Adolescents: Validation of SITBI-NSSI.

The lack of knowledge about Nonsuicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) in Spanish adolescents, especially NSSI thoughts may be due to the paucity of NSSI assessment instruments with validity evidence in this sample. The aim of this study was to assess NSSI thoughts and behavior. In addition, the study examined the association between various NSSI features and suicidal behavior and included a preliminary validation of the new Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview - Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (SITBI-NSSI). 685 Spanish adolescents between 13 and 18 years old (M = 15.58, SD = 1.08; 60.9% girls) completed measures of NSSI features and suicidal behavior. Among adolescents, 19% thought about self-injury, and 16.8% presented NSSI behaviors. The girls had higher levels of NSSI, as well as greater frequency, number of functions, methods, and suicidal thoughts and desire. Some of the functions, methods, and precipitants differed by sex. Those with ANS had a higher risk of suicidal behavior than the comparison group. The association of SITBI-NSSI with other measures supports the validity of the data. Most features of NSSI are similar to those found in Spanish and internationally. The SITBI-NSSI could facilitate the evaluation of NSSI in Spanish adolescents.

Effects of childhood trauma on nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescent patients with bipolar II depression.

This study was performed to explore the effect of childhood trauma on nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents with bipolar II (BD II) depression. Based on the diagnostic criteria of the DSM-5 and structured interviews to assess the presence or absence of NSSI, 184 adolescent patients with BD II depression were divided into the NSSI (n=112) and non-NSSI (n=72) groups. The Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire (ANSAQ), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ-SF), Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), and Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) were used to assess the subjects. The CTQ-SF, HAMD, HAMA, and TAS-20 scores were significantly higher in the NSSI group than in the non-NSSI group (p&lt;.01). Logistic regression analysis showed emotional abuse (p=.028, OR=1.14, 95% CI=1.01-1.28) and age of onset (p=.009) as risk factors for NSSI. Adolescents with onset age 12-13 years (OR=6.30, 95% CI=1.72-23.10) and 14-15 years (OR=2.24, 95% CI=1.04-4.84) had a higher risk of self-injury relative to adolescents aged 16-18 years. Childhood trauma and alexithymia were important influencing factors in adolescent patients with BD II depression. Emotional abuse and age of onset as risk factors for NSSI, and difficulties in emotion recognition were positively associated with the patients' NSSI.

A Functional Approach to the Assessment of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury on YouTube

This research explores representations of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) on social media. The current study aims to examine the applicability of a functional model of NSSI to videos posted on YouTube by analyzing the 100 most viewed YouTube videos relating to NSSI at a point in time in 2018. Motivations for continued engagement in NSSI were examined for each content creator who posted one of the top 100 most viewed videos relating to NSSI. Categorizations of a content creator’s motivation were based on Nock and Prinstein (2004) four-function model (FFM) of NSSI, in which the motivations, or functions, of NSSI are categorized by two dichotomous factors: (a) positive (i.e., involves the addition of a favorable stimulus) or negative (i.e., involves the removal of an aversive stimulus) and (b) automatic (i.e., intrapersonal) or social (i.e., interpersonal). Uploaders most endorsed automatic negative reinforcement (50%), followed by automatic positive (26%), social positive (3%), and social negative (3%). Considering the growing number of children and adolescents with near constant access to internet and social media, there may be implications for further development of safety measures for social media platforms. The results of this study may be valuable for parents, health care professionals, and educators, who should be aware of available social media content relating to NSSI and consider implementing additional media-literacy and media-safety education in school curriculums and programming for children and adolescents. Furthermore, health care professional should be aware that misconceptions of NSSI may have an impact on patients’ willingness to seek treatment, or the attitude with which treatment is sought.

The Relation between Neuroticism and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior among College Students: Multiple Mediating Effects of Emotion Regulation and Depression.

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior among college students is a focus of attention in current society. In the information era, the Internet serves as a public health concern and as an effective pathway for prevention. In order to reduce NSSI behavior, we explore its influence factors, especially the relations between neuroticism, emotion regulation (ER), depression, and NSSI behavior. Methods: A total of 450 college students were surveyed with the Big Five Inventory-2, Emotion Regulation Questionnaire, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire. Results: Regression analysis showed that neuroticism significantly negatively predicted emotion regulation, while it positively predicted depression and NSSI. Multiple mediation modeling demonstrated that neuroticism and emotion regulation had no significant direct effects on NSSI. However, neuroticism could indirectly affect NSSI through four pathways of multiple mediating effects, including depression, cognitive reappraisal-depression, expressive suppression-depression, and cognitive reappraisal-expressive suppression-depression. Conclusions: Neuroticism positively predicts depression and NSSI behavior, and affects NSSI through the mediating effect of ER and depression. Therefore, amelioration of neuroticism from the perspectives of emotion regulation and depression is recommended, so as to reduce NSSI behavior among college students with highly neurotic personalities.

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in the Decompensation of Personality Disorder in Adolescents During the COVID-19 Pandemic in 2020–2021

The aim of the study was to determine the clinical and psychopathological characteristics of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in personality disorder (PD) in the comparative age-related aspect during the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. Patients and methods: a total of 230 patients (177 males and 53 females) aged 16–25, diagnosed with PD and NSSI behavior manifestations, were studied retrospectively in mental hospital and outpatintly by using clinical-psychopathological method. All patients were divided into two equal groups of 115 people each. Group I was examined in 2017–2019, Group II — in 2020–2021 during the coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic. Results: common features established in both groups were as follows: affective instability, alexithymia, conflict relations with significant others, and current traumatic experience. For a comparative assessment of NSSI in patients of both groups, we used the NSSI typology in adolescent PD, previously developed by the authors. Impulsive, demonstrative, addictive, depersonalizing and self-destructive types of NSSI were recognized as significant for the diagnostic assessment. In the second group of patients, that is, during the period of the COVID-19 pandemic, a change in the selected variants of NSSI was found, that is, in borderline and narcissistic PD the impulsive type was replaced by a demonstrative type, and in schizoid and anxious PD it turned into an addictive one. For a comparative assessment of NSSI in patients of both groups, we used the NSSI typology in PD in adolescence, previously developed by the authors. When assessing suicidality in group II, it was revealed that in most types of PD, with a decrease in the number of suicidal attempts, there was a noticeable increase in the incidence of NSSI with demonstrative suicidality, which correlated with the trajectories of the identified variants of NSSI. Conclusions: the study underlined the role of personality pathology in in adolescence in the development of psychopathological disorders with NSSI and their high association with suicidal activity. The modification of various NSSI variants in the context of a coronavirus infection (COVID-19) pandemic may be due to the unique characteristics of the psychotraumatic factor. With the same strength of impact, the multidirectional influence on various personality types and comorbid psychopathological disorders in adolescence should be taken into account, when creating new models of therapeutic and socio-rehabilitation interventions for the adolescent contingent of patients.