Prevalence and Characteristics of Self-Harm in Adolescents: Meta-Analyses of Community-Based Studies 1990–2015
Abstract
Objective To provide meta-analytic estimates of self-harm from all community-based studies of adolescents from 1990 through 2015, estimates of suicidal risk, and characteristics including age profile, frequency, types, seeking help, and reasons. Method Databases, bibliographies, and the internet were searched for cross-sectional and cohort studies of 12- to 18-year-olds. Meta-analytic estimates of the prevalence and characteristics of self-harm, risk of suicidal behaviors, and rates comparing different methods were calculated. Results One hundred seventy-two datasets reporting self-harm in 597,548 participants from 41 countries were included. Overall lifetime prevalence was 16.9% (95% CI 15.1-18.9), with rates increasing to 2015. Girls were more likely to self-harm (risk ratio 1.72, 95% CI 1.57-1.88). The mean age of starting self-harm was 13 years, with 47% reporting only 1 or 2 episodes and cutting being the most common type (45%). The most frequent reason was relief from thoughts or feelings. Slightly more than half sought help, but for most this was from a friend. Suicidal ideation (risk ratio 4.97) and attempts (risk ratio 9.14) were significantly higher in adolescents who self-harmed, but this was higher with more frequent self-harm. Methodologic factors also were associated with higher rates of self-harm. Conclusion Interventions that can lower suicidal risk should be made available to adolescents who self-harm frequently as soon as possible. Preventative interventions…
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Female gender had a pooled RR of 1.72 for self-harm.
“Gillies et al. (2018) reviewed 261 studies, including 597,548 participants, and reported that the female gender had a pooled RR of 1.72.”
From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Gillies et al. (2018)
Suicide attempts were significantly higher in adolescents who self-harmed (RR 9.14).
“A review including 15 datasets and 37,784 participants by Gillies et al. (2018) found that suicide attempts were significantly higher in adolescents who self-harmed (RR: 9.14).”
From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Gillies et al. (2018)
The risk of self-harm was more prevalent in female youth compared to male youth.
“The most reported risk factor for self-harm was gender; Gillies et al. (2018), Xiao et al. (2022), and Wang et al. (2022), all identified that the risk of self-harm was more prevalent in female youth compared to male youth.”
From Risk and Protective Factors of Self-harm and Suicidality in Adolescents: An Umbrella Review with Meta-Analysis (2024) · cites this paper as Gillies et al. (2018)
Cites
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Help-Seeking Behaviour and Adolescent Self-Harm: A Systematic Review
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“In addition, meta-analyses estimate that 22.9% of adolescents have engaged in self-harm whereby they deliberately and directly damage their body tissue in the absence of suicidal ideation (Gillies et al., 2018).”
InfluentialKothgassner, O. D., Robinson, K., Goreis, A., Ougrin, D., & Plener, P. L. (2020) · Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Dysregulation · doi:10.1186/s40479-020-00123-9 · Cited by 163 · see citing works
“Given that there is evidence for an increase in rates of self-harm through adolescence with a decline in early adulthood [19, 60], future studies should investigate age-specific effects of therapeutic interventions from young adolescents to early adulthood.”
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“The most reported risk factor for self-harm was gender; Gillies et al. (2018), Xiao et al. (2022), and Wang et al. (2022), all identi fi ed that the risk of self-harm was more prevalent in female youth compared to male youth.”
BackgroundInfluentialManaging risk and self-harm: Keeping young people safe
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Prevention of self-harm and suicide in young people up to the age of 25 in education settings
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“A meta-analysis including 144 population-based studies from 41 countries reported a lifetime prevalence of 16.9% for self-harm in adolescents aged 12 to 18 years old [6].”
BackgroundInfluential
- Authors
- Gillies, D., Christou, M. A., Dixon, A. C., Featherston, O. J., Rapti, I., Garcia-Anguita, A., Villasis-Keever, M., Reebye, P., Christou, E., Al Kabir, N., & Christou, P. A.
- Affiliations
- Western Sydney Local Health District (AU)
- University of Alberta (CA)
- The University of Sydney (AU)
- University Hospital of Ioannina (GR)
- University of British Columbia (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Gillies, Donna
- Venue
- Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2018-10
- Volume
- 57
- Issue
- 10
- Pages
- 733-741
- ISSN
- 0890-8567 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2888742107
- Cited by
- 557
- References
- 7
- Citations by year
- 2026: 71 · 2025: 107 · 2024: 105 · 2023: 106 · 2022: 77 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 25 · 2019: 12 · 2012: 1
- FWCI
- 3.77
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- 2015 Westmead Hospital Research and Education Network
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Injury Epidemiology and Prevention
- Keywords
- adolescent self-harm, prevalence, suicidal ideation, suicide attempts, self-harm methods, cuttings, help-seeking, gender differences, age of onset, suicide prevention, peer support
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Humans, Risk Factors, Suicide, Attempted, Prevalence, Self-Injurious Behavior, Suicidal Ideation
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