Contributors to nonsuicidal self-injury in incarcerated youth

Abstract

BackgroundDespite elevations in risks associated with self-injurious behavior among community adolescents, the degree to which these features are associated with self-injury among incarcerated youth has rarely been examined. Although the DSM-5 recently proposed a distinct category of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), most studies of youths in forensic settings have not distinguished between subtypes of self-harming individuals.MethodsDemographic, offense, and disorder contributors to NSSI in incarcerated youths of both genders (N = 358) were examined via a computerized self-report instrument (VISA), largely consistent with DSM-5.ResultsNonsuicidal self-injurers (vs. non-injurers) were almost three times as likely to be white, slightly younger, and more than seven times as likely to have also made a suicide attempt. While males and females reported different rates of exposure to different types of assaultive violence, both nonsexual assault and forced sexual activity were approximately twice as likely among those reporting NSSI in both genders.ConclusionFinding support standardized, universal screening for nonsuicidal self-injury in juvenile justice secure care facilities.

Latent Class Analysis of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Justice-Involved Juveniles: Association With Motivational and Emotional Aspects of Self-Harm Behavior

“…Somewhat similar risk factors for NSSI have been observed for justice-involved youth. The dominant risk factors are abusive past life experiences and current adverse life events, younger age, substance use, dissociation, and previous self-harm and suicide attempts (Kenny et al, 2008; Matsumoto et al, 2005; McReynolds et al, 2017).…”

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Among Incarcerated Adolescents: Prevalence, Personality, and Psychiatric Comorbidity

“…This finding is underpinned by earlier studies where depressive symptoms were highly comorbid with NSSI ( 13 , 83 ). In incarcerated adolescents, MDD symptoms were found among those who reported NSSI twice as often compared to those without a history of self-injury ( 84 ). It is not clear why we obtained different results (significant and non-significant) when we assessed the association between NSSI and depression using different measures.…”

The Instagram/Facebook ban on graphic self‐harm imagery: A sentiment analysis and topic modeling approach

“…Self‐harm is defined as the deliberate destruction or alteration of body tissue without conscious suicidal intent (Favazza, 1989; Nock & Favazza, 2009). Prevalence estimates for self‐harm in adolescence range from 13.9% to 21.4%, with higher estimates found in adolescents who have experienced trauma from abuse, incarceration, or human trafficking (Kiss et al, 2015; McReynolds et al, 2017; Moreno et al, 2016; Nock & Favazza, 2009; Patchin & Hinduja, 2017; Wang et al, 2017). A meta‐analysis of studies published between 1990 and 2015 on adolescent self‐harm found that the mean age of starting self‐harm was 13 years, with 47% reporting only one or two episodes, and cutting being the most common type (45%) (Gillies et al, 2018).…”

“…Self‐harm during adolescence carries risk of depression/anxiety, delinquency/aggressive behavior, suicide, alcohol/drug use, poor school performance, dysfunctional interpersonal relationships, and physical scarring (Kiss et al, 2015; McReynolds et al, 2017; Nock & Favazza, 2009). Suicide shares many of the same risk factors as self‐harm, with elevated risk of both behaviors occurring in 15‐ to 19‐year‐old youth (Hawton et al, 2012; Hilton, 2017).…”