Impact of the COVID-19 and psychological risk factors on non-suicidal self-injury behavior among high school students: a one-year follow-up study

Abstract

Objectives Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior is a severe public health issue in adolescents. This study investigated the possible impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and analyzed psychological risk factors on adolescent NSSI. Methods A one-year follow-up study was conducted in September 2019 (Time 1) and September 2020 (Time 2) among 3588 high school students. The completed follow-up participants (N = 2527) were classified into no NSSI (negative at both time points), emerging NSSI (negative at Time 1 but positive at Time 2), and sustained NSSI (positive at both time points) subgroups according to their NSSI behaviors before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Perceived family functioning, perceived school climate, negative life events, personality traits (neuroticism, impulsivity, and self-control) were assessed using self-report scales. Results The data indicated an increase (10.3%) in the incidence of NSSI. Compared to no NSSI subjects, the emerging NSSI and sustained NSSI subgroups had lower perceived family functioning, higher neuroticism, higher impulse-system but lower self-control scores, and more negative life events. Logistic regressions revealed that after controlling for demographics, neuroticism and impulse-system levels at Time 1 positively predicted emerging NSSI behavior, and similarly, higher neuroticism and impulsivity and lower self-control at Time 1 predicted sustained NSSI behavior. Conclusions These findings highlighted the aggravated impact of the COVID-19 on NSSI, and suggested that individual neuroticism, impulsivity, and self-control traits might be crucial for the development of NSSI behavior among adolescent students.

Life satisfaction trajectories among junior high school students in China: The role of parent–child communication

“…Consistent with our hypothesis, the LS of Chinese junior high school students showed an overall downward trend from grades 7 to 9. This result is also supported by previous studies (Li & Bian, 2016; Orben et al, 2022; Wang & Zhang, 2012). The reasons for this phenomenon are as follows.…”

“…For example, a review of relevant studies suggests that Western teenagers' LS tends to decline slightly (Proctor et al, 2009). This finding is similarly supported by most Chinese research: LS among junior high school students generally declines from the first to the third year of junior high school (Li & Bian, 2016; Wang & Zhang, 2012). However, the current research is slightly different in the specific trajectory of change.…”

“…However, the current research is slightly different in the specific trajectory of change. For example, in a longitudinal study, Wang and Zhang (2012) found that LS among junior high school students is in a ‘continuous decline’ trend during 3 years of junior high school. In another longitudinal study conducted by Li and Bian, it was shown that high school students' LS increased in the early stage (from grades 7 to 8) and dropped later (in grade 9) (Li & Bian, 2016).…”

Non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal ideation among adolescents: the chain-mediating role of rumination and decentering

“…Balasankar Ganesan, School of Allied Health and Human Services, IHM, Australia present, NSSI is listed as an independent diagnosis in the third part of the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (3). Previous studies have shown that the detection rate of NSSI in Chinese adolescents is generally higher than what is seen in Western countries (4) and is showing a gradually increasing trend (5). NSSI not only causes physical damage to adolescents, but also greatly harms their psychology, including increasing the likelihood of certain diseases, various psychological and behavioral disorders, and even suicidal behavior (6,7).…”

Effect of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on Emotion Regulation in Adolescent Patients with Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

“…Indeed, it has become a social public-health problem affecting the mental health of adolescents. 4 At present, the treatment of NSSI behavior in China and abroad is primarily psychotherapy. The most common is cognitive behavioral therapy, which aims to alleviate adverse emotions by improving cognition, but it often only has short-term efficacy.…”