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Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in German-speaking countries: comparing prevalence rates from three community samples

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Abstract

Purpose

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been recognized as a significant mental health problem in adolescence with high prevalence rates. To date, there are few studies that compare rates of adolescent NSSI between different countries. Thus far no prevalence rates of adolescent NSSI have been reported for Austrian or Swiss community samples.

Methods

This study aimed to assess and compare rates of adolescent NSSI in school samples from Austria, Germany and Switzerland using the same assessment instrument (Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory; OSI).

Results

Within these countries, 6-month prevalence rates between 7.6 and 14.6 % were found, with rates showing significant differences between countries (χ² = 16.54, p = 0.02).

Conclusions

These results demonstrate with some variability the significant rates of NSSI in youth in a cross-country study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

    Paul L. Plener & Rebecca C. Groschwitz

  2. Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Constanze J. Fischer & Brigitte Rollett

  3. Department of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, University of Koblenz-Landau, Landau, Germany

    Tina In-Albon

  4. Division of Medical Sciences, University of Victoria, Victoria, BC, Canada

    Mary K. Nixon

  5. Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Mary K. Nixon

  6. Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

    Marc Schmid

Authors
  1. Paul L. Plener
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  2. Constanze J. Fischer
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  3. Tina In-Albon
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  4. Brigitte Rollett
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  5. Mary K. Nixon
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  6. Rebecca C. Groschwitz
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  7. Marc Schmid
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Correspondence to Paul L. Plener.

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Plener, P.L., Fischer, C.J., In-Albon, T. et al. Adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in German-speaking countries: comparing prevalence rates from three community samples. Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 48, 1439–1445 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0645-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-012-0645-z

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