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Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence: Longitudinal Course, Trajectories, and Intrapersonal Predictors

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Abstract

Although prevalence rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been established throughout adolescence, little is known about the progression of NSSI, and consequently, about the risk factors for youth NSSI engagement. This study aimed to describe the overall longitudinal course of NSSI and the latent trajectory classes of NSSI in a population-based sample of adolescents using multi-wave data. Moreover, this study examined whether sex, lifetime history of depression, rumination, and negative attributional style predicted the longitudinal course of NSSI and trajectory group membership. Participants were 617 Chinese adolescents in Grades 10 through 12 (51.4 % girls). NSSI was assessed across eight waves of data. History of depression, rumination, and negative attributional style were assessed at baseline. Latent growth curve modeling revealed that only lifetime depression predicted the longitudinal course of NSSI from Grades 10 to 12, with depressed adolescents showing greater and more stable NSSI engagement over time than non-depressed adolescents. Group-based trajectory modeling yielded three distinct trajectory classes of NSSI engagement: low (69.2 %), moderate (26.1 %), and chronic (4.7 %). Negative attributional style distinguished adolescents in the chronic vs. low and moderate NSSI trajectory classes. Sex, rumination, and lifetime depression predicted membership in the chronic and/or moderate vs. low NSSI trajectory class. NSSI trajectory classes, based on frequency of NSSI, exist and are differentiated by sex, depression history, rumination, and negative attributional style. This study suggests that during this period of adolescence NSSI may be a relatively stable behavior, especially for some adolescents. Negative attributional style may be a salient risk factor for chronic NSSI engagement.

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by a research grant from the Social Sciences and Research Council of Canada awarded to John R. Z. Abela. This article is dedicated to the loving memory of John R. Z. Abela, whose tragic and untimely death in June 2010 left him unable to complete analyses of these data.

Conflict of Interest

The authors of this manuscript have no conflicts of interest or financial interests relevant to the subject of this manuscript. The authors of this manuscript take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis, and all authors had full access to all the data in the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychology, University of Denver, Denver, CO, USA

    Andrea L. Barrocas & Benjamin L. Hankin

  2. Department of Psychology, University of North Carolina, Campus Box 3270, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA

    Matteo Giletta & Mitchell J. Prinstein

  3. Department of Psychology, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA

    John R. Z. Abela

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  1. Andrea L. Barrocas
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  2. Matteo Giletta
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  3. Benjamin L. Hankin
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  4. Mitchell J. Prinstein
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  5. John R. Z. Abela
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Correspondence to Matteo Giletta.

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Andrea L. Barrocas and Matteo Giletta are co-primary authors.

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Barrocas, A.L., Giletta, M., Hankin, B.L. et al. Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence: Longitudinal Course, Trajectories, and Intrapersonal Predictors. J Abnorm Child Psychol 43, 369–380 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10802-014-9895-4

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