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. 2018 Aug;108(8):1042-1048.
doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304470. Epub 2018 Jun 21.

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among a Representative Sample of US Adolescents, 2015

Martin A Monto  1 , Nick McRee  1 , Frank S Deryck  1
Affiliations

Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among a Representative Sample of US Adolescents, 2015

Martin A Monto et al. Am J Public Health. 2018 Aug.

Abstract

Objectives: To provide prevalence estimates of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) based on large, representative, nonclinical samples of high-school students, and to explore gender differences in health risks associated with NSSI.

Methods: We used 2015 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System data to estimate the prevalence of self-injury and variables potentially associated with self-injury for high-school-age boys (n = 32 150) and girls (n = 32 521) in 11 US states. We used logistic regression analysis to consider associations between NSSI and other health risks.

Results: Rates of boys reporting purposefully hurting themselves without wanting to die over the past 12 months ranged from 6.4% (Delaware) to 14.8% (Nevada). Rates for girls varied from 17.7% (Delaware) to 30.8% (Idaho). Rates declined with age and varied by race and ethnicity. Depression; suicidal thoughts, plans, and attempts; sexual minority status; being electronically bullied; smoking; and substance use were associated with NSSI. There were minor differences in associations between NSSI and health risk variables by gender.

Conclusions: Nonclinical populations of adolescents are at high risk for self-injury. Nonsuicidal self-injury was higher among girls than among boys, but patterns of association with other health risks were similar.

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