Hierarchical topological model of the factors influencing adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury behavior based on the DEMATEL-TAISM method

Abstract

This study analyzed the factors influencing adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behavior and their interrelationships, and established a total influencing factor model. Through a literature analysis and semi-structured interviews with 87 adolescents and 27 experts in Guangxi Province, China, 13 influencing factors were identified from six aspects: physiological factors, cognitive factors, emotional factors, social support factors, social environment, and NSSI behavior. A system of factors influencing adolescents' NSSI behavior and a model of the factors influencing the comprehensive antagonism multilevel explanatory structure were obtained using a combination of Decision-Making Trial and Evaluation Laboratory technique and Total Adversarial Interpretive Structural Model. In descending order, NSSI, emotional state, self-efficacy, and self-cognition influenced adolescents' NSSI behavior. Social environment, exercise, and recreation had a greater impact on other factors, while NSSI, emotional regulation ability, and emotional state were greatly affected by other factors. Emotion regulation ability, self-cognition, self-efficacy, family support, school support, social support, and sleep were found to be the core factors influencing NSSI behavior of adolescents. These factors could be used to directly intervene in adolescent NSSI behavior. Timely treatment of adolescents' negative emotional states is directly conducive to preventing NSSI behavior and alleviating its severity.

Figure 1

Model framework.

Figure 2

Scatter diagram of centrality and causality. “A2,” “A3,” “B2,” “B3,” “B4,” “B5,” “B6,” “B7,” “B8,” “B9,” “B10,” “B11,” and "Y" stand for "Sleep,” "Exercise,” "Self-cognition,” "Self-efficacy,” "Emotional state,” "Emotion Regulation Ability,” “Peer Support,” "Family Support,” "School Support,” "Social Support,” "Social Environment,” "Leisure Entertainment,” and “NSSI”.

Figure 3

Multilevel hierarchical structure model diagram with adversarial influence coefficient. “A2,” “A3,” “B2,” “B3,” “B4,” “B5,” “B6,” “B7,” “B8,” “B9,” “B10,” “B11,” and "Y" stand for "Sleep,” "Exercise,” "Self-cognition,” "Self-efficacy,” "Emotional state,” "Emotion Regulation Ability,” “Peer Support,” "Family Support,” "School Support,” "Social Support,” "Social Environment,” "Leisure Entertainment,” and “NSSI”.