The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders
Abstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an intentional act that results in physical damage to one’s body, without the intent to commit suicide. In recent years, self-injurious behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), have increased, especially among adolescents and young...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06471-6 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1832594464958316544 |
|---|---|
| author | Armon Massoodi Zeinab Aghajantabar Sussan Moudi Hoda Shirafkan |
| author_facet | Armon Massoodi Zeinab Aghajantabar Sussan Moudi Hoda Shirafkan |
| author_sort | Armon Massoodi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an intentional act that results in physical damage to one’s body, without the intent to commit suicide. In recent years, self-injurious behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), have increased, especially among adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the motives for NSSI among adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Methods Adolescents aged 12 to 18 years including patients admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at a state hospital in Babol (northern Iran) and outpatients referring to this center were included in the research. Data collection occurred between February 2021 and September 2021 from a sample of 140 participants. All subjects were given a demographic questionnaire and an inventory of statements about self-injury (Klonsky and Glenn). Moreover, a structured interview was conducted with all to diagnose the nature of the underlying disorder by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Results A total of 140 adolescents with mean age 16.25 ± 1.48 years were assessed. Eighty-five (60.7%) of them were girls. Sixty-five (46.4%) individuals were inpatients and 75 (53.6%) were outpatients; 78 (55.8%) had a history of NSSI and 62 (44.2%) cases had no history of self-injury. The most common method of self-injury was Wounding or cutting a part of the body (n = 56(40.0%)). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) emerged as the most common psychiatric diagnosis among individuals with a history of NSSI. Emotion regulation was the most common motive for self-injury (p = 0.004). The prevalence of self-injury was higher among adolescent girls (p = 0.049). There was no significant relationship between self-injury and inpatient or outpatient status (p = 0.342). Conclusions Our findings indicate that NSSI in adolescents is not limited to a specific or single motive; instead, multiple factors contribute to its occurrence. NSSI methods can also vary, and all should be considered when examining this behavior. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-272e991b94784063a921e2c9683524d0 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-272e991b94784063a921e2c9683524d02025-01-19T12:34:30ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-01-012511910.1186/s12888-025-06471-6The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disordersArmon Massoodi0Zeinab Aghajantabar1Sussan Moudi2Hoda Shirafkan3Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesBabol University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesSocial Determinants of Health Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical SciencesAbstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an intentional act that results in physical damage to one’s body, without the intent to commit suicide. In recent years, self-injurious behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), have increased, especially among adolescents and young adults. The objective of this study was to investigate the motives for NSSI among adolescents with psychiatric disorders. Methods Adolescents aged 12 to 18 years including patients admitted to the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at a state hospital in Babol (northern Iran) and outpatients referring to this center were included in the research. Data collection occurred between February 2021 and September 2021 from a sample of 140 participants. All subjects were given a demographic questionnaire and an inventory of statements about self-injury (Klonsky and Glenn). Moreover, a structured interview was conducted with all to diagnose the nature of the underlying disorder by a child and adolescent psychiatrist. Results A total of 140 adolescents with mean age 16.25 ± 1.48 years were assessed. Eighty-five (60.7%) of them were girls. Sixty-five (46.4%) individuals were inpatients and 75 (53.6%) were outpatients; 78 (55.8%) had a history of NSSI and 62 (44.2%) cases had no history of self-injury. The most common method of self-injury was Wounding or cutting a part of the body (n = 56(40.0%)). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) emerged as the most common psychiatric diagnosis among individuals with a history of NSSI. Emotion regulation was the most common motive for self-injury (p = 0.004). The prevalence of self-injury was higher among adolescent girls (p = 0.049). There was no significant relationship between self-injury and inpatient or outpatient status (p = 0.342). Conclusions Our findings indicate that NSSI in adolescents is not limited to a specific or single motive; instead, multiple factors contribute to its occurrence. NSSI methods can also vary, and all should be considered when examining this behavior.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06471-6Self-injurious behaviorMental disordersAdolescent |
| spellingShingle | Armon Massoodi Zeinab Aghajantabar Sussan Moudi Hoda Shirafkan The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders BMC Psychiatry Self-injurious behavior Mental disorders Adolescent |
| title | The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| title_full | The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| title_fullStr | The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| title_full_unstemmed | The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| title_short | The motives for non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| title_sort | motives for non suicidal self injury among adolescents with psychiatric disorders |
| topic | Self-injurious behavior Mental disorders Adolescent |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06471-6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT armonmassoodi themotivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT zeinabaghajantabar themotivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT sussanmoudi themotivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT hodashirafkan themotivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT armonmassoodi motivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT zeinabaghajantabar motivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT sussanmoudi motivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders AT hodashirafkan motivesfornonsuicidalselfinjuryamongadolescentswithpsychiatricdisorders |