Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is a growing concern in global adolescent mental health. This study examines psychosocial correlates of NSSI in adolescents presenting to a pediatric emergency department in Shanghai.
Methods: A total of 612 adolescents (aged 12-18) presenting with unintentional injuries to the emergency department from July 2019 to July 2024 were enrolled. Structured interviews and validated questionnaires assessed demographic, familial, and school-related variables. NSSI behaviors were identified based on the DSM-5 criteria. Logistic regression analysis was used to examine associations with NSSI.
Results: Of the participants, 283 (46.2%) reported NSSI behaviors within the past 12 months, representing the past-year prevalence of NSSI. Female gender (OR = 7.130, junior high; OR = 6.000, high school), prior history of NSSI (OR = 8.452), single-parent household (OR = 2.934), higher parental education (OR = 2.476), and school bullying (OR = 3.195) were positively associated with NSSI. Living in suburban areas (OR = 0.581) and being cared for by non-parental caregivers (OR = 0.357) were inversely associated with NSSI.
Conclusion: NSSI was common in this emergency department sample, and several psychosocial characteristics were found to be associated with NSSI. These findings are descriptive and should not be interpreted causally, but they may contribute to hypothesis generation for future longitudinal research.
Keywords: Adolescents; Emergency department; Family structure; NSSI; Non-suicidal self-injury; Psychosocial factors; School bullying.
© 2025. The Author(s).