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Longitudinal predictors of past-year non-suicidal self-injury and motives among college students

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 September 2011

H. C. Wilcox ,
A. M. Arria ,
K. M. Caldeira ,
K. B. Vincent ,
G. M. Pinchevsky  and
K. E. O'Grady
H. C. Wilcox*
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
A. M. Arria
Affiliation:
Center on Young Adult Health and Development (CYAHD), University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Family Science, College Park, MD, USA Treatment Research Institute, Philadelphia, PA, USA
K. M. Caldeira
Affiliation:
Center on Young Adult Health and Development (CYAHD), University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Family Science, College Park, MD, USA
K. B. Vincent
Affiliation:
Center on Young Adult Health and Development (CYAHD), University of Maryland School of Public Health, Department of Family Science, College Park, MD, USA
G. M. Pinchevsky
Affiliation:
Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA
K. E. O'Grady
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD, USA
*
*Address for correspondence: H. C. Wilcox, Ph.D., The Johns Hopkins Hospital, 550 North Broadway, Room 206A, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA. (Email: hwilcox1@jhmi.edu)
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Abstract

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate and direct injuring of body tissue without suicidal intent for purposes not socially sanctioned. Few studies have examined the correlates of NSSI among young adults. This study aimed to identify predictors of lifetime and past-year NSSI, and describe motives for NSSI and disclosure of NSSI to others.

Method

Interviews were conducted annually with 1081 students enrolled in the College Life Study, a prospective longitudinal study conducted at a large public mid-Atlantic university. NSSI characteristics were assessed at Year 4. Demographic and predictor variables were assessed during Years 1 to 4. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify correlates of lifetime NSSI and predictors of past-year NSSI.

Results

The prevalence of past-year and lifetime NSSI was 2% and 7% respectively (>70% were female for both lifetime and past-year NSSI). Seven percent of NSSI cases self-injured once, whereas almost half self-injured six or more times. Independent predictors of past-year NSSI were maternal depression, non-heterosexual orientation, affective dysregulation and depression. Independent predictors of lifetime NSSI were depression, non-heterosexual orientation, paternal depression and female sex. One in six participants with NSSI had attempted suicide by young adulthood. The three most commonly reported motives for NSSI were mental distress, coping and situational stressors. Most (89%) told someone about their NSSI, most commonly a friend (68%).

Conclusions

This study identified unique predictors of NSSI, which should help to elucidate its etiology and has implications for early identification and interventions.

Keywords

College studentsdeliberate self-harmNSSIself-injurious behavioryoung adults
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 42 , Issue 4 , April 2012 , pp. 717 - 726
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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