Days with and without self‐injurious thoughts and behaviors: Impact of childhood maltreatment on adolescent online social networking

Abstract

Introduction Among adolescents, an increasing rate of interpersonal interactions occurs online. Previous research has shown that interpersonal context exerts a robust impact on suicidal thoughts or behaviors, yet little attention has focused on examining the content of online interactions surrounding self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors. As such, the present study sought to compare online social networking behaviors among adolescents on days with and without experiencing self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors, as influenced by childhood maltreatment history. Method Adolescents aged 13–18 hospitalized for self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors were recruited as part of an ongoing longitudinal study. A subsample (N = 22) of adolescents provided data from their online social networking platforms (i.e., text messages, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter). Using a mixed‐methods approach, online social networking data on days of experiencing self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors and days of not experiencing self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors were compared. Results Results indicate the frequency and content of online social networking messaging do not change by day of self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors or history of childhood maltreatment. However, childhood maltreatment predicts received conflictual messages as well as sent symptomatic messages on days of experiencing self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors. Conclusions Childhood maltreatment may play a role in the content of adolescent online behaviors, particularly on days when they experience self‐injurious thoughts or behaviors. Implications for intervention are discussed.