Cumulative Risks and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: Protective Effect of Personality Strengths

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury is an important public health problem, which is closely related to suicidal behavior and has attracted wide attention from researchers. This study recruited 1207 adolescents to systematically explore the relationship between cumulative risks and non-suicidal self-injuries using scales and questionnaires. It also compared the influences of various risk factors on self-injurious behaviour and researched the protective effect of personality strengths (mindfulness, hope, openness, grit, and meaning in life) as resilience factors. The results showed that the significant predictive effects of cumulative risks on adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury and adverse childhood experiences are greater predictors of adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury than negative life events. Mindfulness and meaning in life are two protectors co-moderating the effects of cumulative risk on adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury. This study has important implications for a better understanding of resilience. And more intervention and prevention strategies based on personality strengths for individuals experiencing adversity and stress could be effective in improving their psychosocial functioning.