Cited by 294Suicide and Self-Harm StudiesHomicide, Infanticide, and Child AbusePersonality Disorders and Psychopathology

Risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents: A meta-analysis

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Wang, Yu-Jing, Li, Xi, Ng, Chee H., Xu, Dong-Wu, Hu, Shaohua, Yuan, Ti-Fei·2022·eClinicalMedicine

Abstract

Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is a significant mental health problem around the world. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to systematically delineate the risk factors for NSSI. Method We searched Medline, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane for relevant articles and abstracts published prior to 12 November 2021. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confident intervals (CIs) were used to assess various risk factors, and publication bias was assessed by Egger's test, the trim and fill method and meta-regression. This study is registered with PROSPERO, CRD42021265885. Results A total of 25 articles were eventually included in the analysis. Eighty risk factors were identified and classified into 7 categories: mental disorders (ORs, 1·89; 95% CI, 1·60–2·24), bullying (ORs, 1·98; 95% CI, 1·32–2·95), low health literacy (ORs, 2·20; 95% CI, 1·63–2·96), problem behaviours (ORs, 2·36; 95% CI, 2·00–2·77), adverse childhood experiences (ORs, 2·49; 95% CI, 1·85–3.34), physical symptoms (ORs, 2·85; 95% CI, 1·36–5·97) and the female gender (ORs, 2·89; 95% CI, 2·43–3·43). The range of heterogeneity (I 2 ) was from 20·3% to 99·2%. Conclusion This meta-analysis found that mental disorders, low health literacy, adverse childhood experiences, bullying, problem behaviours, the female gender and physical symptoms appear to be risk factors for NSSI. Funding NSFC grant (81,822,017), National Key R&D Program of China (2020YFA0113600), Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province, China (No. LY19H090015), Shenzhen-Hong Kong Institute of Brain Science - Shenzhen Fundamental Research Institutions (NYKFKT20190020), Shanghai Municipal Education Commission - Gaofeng Clinical Medicine Grant Support (20,181,715), Social Science Foundation of China (BIAl80167).

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Authors
Wang, Y.-J., Li, X., Ng, C. H., Xu, D.-W., Hu, S., & Yuan, T.-F.
Affiliations
  • Wenzhou Medical University (CN)
  • The University of Melbourne (AU)
  • First Affiliated Hospital Zhejiang University (CN)
  • Tongji University (CN)
Corresponding author
  • Hu, Shaohua
  • Yuan, Ti-Fei
Venue
eClinicalMedicine
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2022-04
Volume
46
Pages
101350
ISSN
2589-5370 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W4221048957
Cited by
294
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 88 · 2025: 91 · 2024: 66 · 2023: 34 · 2022: 15
FWCI
8.13
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • EClinicalMedicine (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • SSRN Electronic Journal (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
  • Minerva Access (University of Melbourne) (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
Funders
  • Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province (LY19H090015)
  • National Key Research and Development Program of China (2020YFA0113600)
  • Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (81,822,017)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
  • Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Disorders and Psychopathology
Keywords
non-suicidal self-injury, adolescents, risk factors, mental illness, bullying, low health literacy, behavioral problems, adverse childhood experiences, somatic symptoms, female gender, gender differences, adolescent mental health

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