Citation

Snir A, Apter A, Barzilay S, Feldman D, Rafaeli E, Carli V, Wasserman C, Hadlaczky G, Hoven CW, Sarchiapone M, Wasserman D. Crisis 2018; 39(4): 255-266.

Affiliation

National Centre for Suicide Research and Prevention of Mental Ill-Health (NASP), Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Publisher Hogrefe Publishing)

DOI

10.1027/0227-5910/a000493

PMID

29216755

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Self-injurious behaviors in adolescence are a serious public health concern. AIMS: The current study aims to expand our understanding of motives for direct self-injurious behaviors (D-SIB). We examined the explicit motives but also the actual antecedents and consequences of D-SIB over time.

METHOD: As part of the Saving and Empowering Young Lives in Europe (SEYLE) study, adolescents between the ages of 14 and 18 years from Israel completed self-report questionnaires at baseline, 3-month, and 12-month follow-ups.

RESULTS: Decreases in social support predicted later increases in D-SIB, an effect mediated by negative affect. Both peer and parental support also exerted quadratic effects on D-SIB. Thus, low as well as high support predicted subsequent D-SIB. In turn, D-SIB was followed by increased peer and parental support. LIMITATIONS: Our methodology relies on self-reports, affected by social desirability and recall biases.

CONCLUSION: The findings support a causal path for the development of D-SIB: from interpersonal distress to emotional distress and then to D-SIB. They also point to interesting avenues regarding subgroupings of adolescents who self-injure depending on their motives. Finally, our results reveal that D-SIB, although of negative import, might paradoxically be effective in serving certain functions such as gaining support from parents and peers.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; direct self-injurious behaviors; longitudinal changes; social support