Skip to content
2000
Volume 21, Issue 3
  • ISSN: 2666-0822
  • E-ISSN: 2666-0830

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major concern in the field of public health. In the previous version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV-TR), self-injury was only a symptom of borderline personality disorder, but this criterion has recently been seen in people who do not have the diagnostic criteria of borderline personality disorder. The trans-diagnostic approach emphasizes the importance of the factors that precipitate and perpetuate this disorder. The purpose of this research is to review the factors that cause this behavior. Studies were reviewed using Google Scholar, PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus databases with keywords of NSSI etiology factor and NSSI risk factor. In the present study, factors related to self-injury were studied in two categories: proximal and distal factors. Distal factors include traumatic family and insecure attachment; proximal factors are classified into 4 categories: negative self-relationship, emotional factors, social factors, and the role of peer groups. Hence, it is better to address risk factors that are related to NSSI for a comprehensive and effective treatment.

Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822289247240305044908
2024-03-13
2025-04-22
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. NagyL.M. ShanahanM.L. SeafordS.P. Nonsuicidal self‐injury and rumination: A meta‐analysis.J. Clin. Psychol.202379172710.1002/jclp.23394 35639994
    [Google Scholar]
  2. CiprianoA. CellaS. CotrufoP. Nonsuicidal self-injury: A systematic review.Front. Psychol.20178194610.3389/fpsyg.2017.01946 29167651
    [Google Scholar]
  3. LimK.S. WongC.H. McIntyreR.S. Global lifetime and 12-month prevalence of suicidal behavior, deliberate self-harm and non-suicidal self-injury in children and adolescents between 1989 and 2018: A meta-analysis.Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health20191622458110.3390/ijerph16224581 31752375
    [Google Scholar]
  4. SwannellS.V. MartinG.E. PageA. HaskingP. St JohnN.J. Prevalence of nonsuicidal self-injury in nonclinical samples: Systematic review, meta-analysis and meta-regression.Suicide Life Threat. Behav.201444327330310.1111/sltb.12070 24422986
    [Google Scholar]
  5. TurnerB.J. LaydenB.K. ButlerS.M. ChapmanA.L. How often, or how many ways: Clarifying the relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and suicidality.Arch. Suicide Res.201317439741510.1080/13811118.2013.802660 24224673
    [Google Scholar]
  6. AnestisM.D. PenningsS.M. LavenderJ.M. TullM.T. GratzK.L. Low distress tolerance as an indirect risk factor for suicidal behavior: Considering the explanatory role of non-suicidal self-injury.Compr. Psychiatry2013547996100210.1016/j.comppsych.2013.04.005 23684548
    [Google Scholar]
  7. BurkeT.A. OlinoT.M. AlloyL.B. Initial psychometric validation of the non-suicidal self-injury scar cognition scale.J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess.201739354656210.1007/s10862‑017‑9595‑9 28824225
    [Google Scholar]
  8. SelbyE.A. HarnedyL.E. HinerM. KimJ. Developmental and momentary dynamics in the onset and maintenance of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior and borderline personality disorder.Curr. Psychiatry Rep.2022241289790910.1007/s11920‑022‑01396‑3 36422833
    [Google Scholar]
  9. DoddD.R. CrosbyR.D. CaoL. GordonK.H. WonderlichS.A. Borderline personality disorder symptoms as mediational mechanisms linking childhood trauma and nonsuicidal self‐injury among women with bulimia nervosa.Int. J. Eat. Disord.202255337238110.1002/eat.23669 34985154
    [Google Scholar]
  10. GuhaM. Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5.Ref Rev2014; 2014
    [Google Scholar]
  11. KengS.L. LeeY. DrabuS. Construct validity of the mclean screening instrument for borderline personality disorder in two singaporean samples.J. Pers. Disord.201933445046910.1521/pedi_2018_32_352 29949444
    [Google Scholar]
  12. HooleyJ.M. FranklinJ.C. Why do people hurt themselves? A new conceptual model of nonsuicidal self-injury.Clin. Psychol. Sci.20186342845110.1177/2167702617745641
    [Google Scholar]
  13. KlonskyE.D. The functions of deliberate self-injury: A review of the evidence.Clin. Psychol. Rev.200727222623910.1016/j.cpr.2006.08.002 17014942
    [Google Scholar]
  14. BrownR.C. PlenerP.L. Non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence.Curr. Psychiatry Rep.20171932010.1007/s11920‑017‑0767‑9 28315191
    [Google Scholar]
  15. BeanR.A. KeenanB.H. FoxC. Treatment of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury: A review of family factors and family therapy.Am. J. Fam. Ther.202250326427910.1080/01926187.2021.1909513
    [Google Scholar]
  16. LinehanM.M. Skills training manual for treating borderline personality disorder.Guilford press1993
    [Google Scholar]
  17. JiangY. YouJ. HouY. Buffering the effects of peer victimization on adolescent non‐suicidal self‐injury: The role of self‐compassion and family cohesion.J. Adolesc.201653110711510.1016/j.adolescence.2016.09.005 27710776
    [Google Scholar]
  18. WalshB.W. Treating self-injury: A practical guide.Guilford Press2012
    [Google Scholar]
  19. OrganizationW.H. Global status report on alcohol and health 2018.World Health Organization2019
    [Google Scholar]
  20. NockM.K. TeperR. HollanderM. Psychological treatment of self‐injury among adolescents.J. Clin. Psychol.200763111081108910.1002/jclp.20415 17932981
    [Google Scholar]
  21. YatesT.M. TracyA.J. LutharS.S. Nonsuicidal self-injury among “privileged” youths: Longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches to developmental process.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol.2008761526210.1037/0022‑006X.76.1.52 18229983
    [Google Scholar]
  22. GratchI. FernandesS.N. BellK.A. Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors interview–revised (SITBI-R): Reliability, validity, and inter-informant agreement in an adolescent sample.J. Clin. Child Adolesc. Psychol.202251448449410.1080/15374416.2021.1901229 33847199
    [Google Scholar]
  23. CasselsM. van HarmelenA.L. NeufeldS. GoodyerI. JonesP.B. WilkinsonP. Poor family functioning mediates the link between childhood adversity and adolescent nonsuicidal self‐injury.J. Child Psychol. Psychiatry201859888188710.1111/jcpp.12866 29363128
    [Google Scholar]
  24. BureauJ.F. MartinJ. FreynetN. PoirierA.A. LafontaineM.F. CloutierP. Perceived dimensions of parenting and non-suicidal self-injury in young adults.J. Youth Adolesc.201039484494
    [Google Scholar]
  25. SchadeL.C. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI): A case for using emotionally focused family therapy.Contemp. Fam. Ther.201335356858210.1007/s10591‑013‑9236‑8
    [Google Scholar]
  26. TrifanT.A. StattinH. Are adolescents’ mutually hostile interactions at home reproduced in other everyday life contexts?J. Youth Adolesc.201544359861510.1007/s10964‑014‑0204‑x 25348950
    [Google Scholar]
  27. GromatskyM.A. WaszczukM.A. PerlmanG. SalisK.L. KleinD.N. KotovR. The role of parental psychopathology and personality in adolescent non-suicidal self-injury.J. Psychiatr. Res.201785152310.1016/j.jpsychires.2016.10.013 27814456
    [Google Scholar]
  28. PalA. RoyP. Non-suicidal self-injury and family environment: Brief case report.J. Psychosom. Res.2022171
    [Google Scholar]
  29. WrathA.J. AdamsG.C. Self-injurious behaviors and adult attachment: A review of the literature.Arch. Suicide Res.201923452755010.1080/13811118.2018.1486251 29952724
    [Google Scholar]
  30. CasselsM. BaetensI. WilkinsonP. Attachment and non-suicidal self-injury among young adolescents: The indirect role of behavioral problems.Arch. Suicide Res.201923468869610.1080/13811118.2018.1494651 30118634
    [Google Scholar]
  31. DucasseD. Van GordonW. CourtetP. OliéE. Self-injury and self-concept.J. Affect. Disord.201925811511610.1016/j.jad.2019.07.074 31400626
    [Google Scholar]
  32. GilbertP. ClarkeM. HempelS. MilesJ.N.V. IronsC. Criticizing and reassuring oneself: An exploration of forms, styles and reasons in female students.Br. J. Clin. Psychol.2004431315010.1348/014466504772812959 15005905
    [Google Scholar]
  33. DrabuS. SündermannO. HongR.Y. A one-week online self-compassion training reduces self-criticism and pain endurance in adults with non-suicidal self-injury ideation: A randomized-waitlist controlled study.Mindfulness20221351232124510.1007/s12671‑022‑01870‑2
    [Google Scholar]
  34. YouJ. LinM.P. Predicting suicide attempts by time-varying frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese community adolescents.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol.201583352453310.1037/a0039055 25774785
    [Google Scholar]
  35. HooleyJ.M. HoD.T. SlaterJ. LockshinA. Pain perception and nonsuicidal self-injury: A laboratory investigation.Pers. Disord.20101317017910.1037/a0020106 22448633
    [Google Scholar]
  36. JamesK.M. Dynamics of affective reactivity during mother-daughter interactions: The impact of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury.Res. Child Adolesc. Psychopathol.202351559761110.1007/s10802‑022‑01011‑2
    [Google Scholar]
  37. NockM.K. Self-injury.Annu. Rev. Clin. Psychol.20106133936310.1146/annurev.clinpsy.121208.131258 20192787
    [Google Scholar]
  38. MillerD.N. BrockS.E. Causes (with Richard Lieberman). MillerD.N. BrockS.E. Identifying, assessing, and treating self-injury at school.Boston, MASpringer US201092110.1007/978‑1‑4419‑6092‑4_2
    [Google Scholar]
  39. VictorS.E. KlonskyE.D. Correlates of suicide attempts among self-injurers: A meta-analysis.Clin. Psychol. Rev.201434428229710.1016/j.cpr.2014.03.005 24742496
    [Google Scholar]
  40. SteeleM.A. PowerJ. SmithH.P. A functional approach to the assessment of non-suicidal self-injury on youtube.Issues Ment. Health Nurs.202243980881710.1080/01612840.2022.2072547 35594485
    [Google Scholar]
  41. GandhiA. LuyckxK. MaitraS. ClaesL. Non-suicidal self-injury and other self-directed violent behaviors in India: A review of definitions and research.Asian J. Psychiatr.20162219620110.1016/j.ajp.2015.09.015 26482720
    [Google Scholar]
  42. MahtaniS. HaskingP. MelvinG.A. Shame and non-suicidal self-injury: Conceptualization and preliminary test of a novel developmental model among emerging adults.J. Youth Adolesc.201948475377010.1007/s10964‑018‑0944‑0 30311043
    [Google Scholar]
  43. WeismooreJ.T. SmythersE.C. The role of cognitive distortion in the relationship between abuse, assault, and non-suicidal self-injury.J. Youth Adolesc.201039328129010.1007/s10964‑009‑9452‑6 19784765
    [Google Scholar]
  44. Gómez-CastilloM.D. Escrivá-SV. Tolosa-PérezM.T. The link between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), body image and activity on social networking sites among female adolescents with an eating disorder.Clin. Child Psychol. Psychiatry202227373074410.1177/13591045221081191 35369739
    [Google Scholar]
  45. GyoriD. BalazsJ. Nonsuicidal self-injury and perfectionism: A systematic review.Front. Psychiatry20211269114710.3389/fpsyt.2021.691147 34305684
    [Google Scholar]
  46. WestersN.J. Forgiveness and religious coping in adolescents who self-injure.Regent University2010
    [Google Scholar]
  47. GratzK.L. RoemerL. Multidimensional assessment of emotion regulation and dysregulation: Development, factor structure, and initial validation of the difficulties in emotion regulation scale.J. Psychopathol. Behav. Assess.2004261415410.1023/B:JOBA.0000007455.08539.94
    [Google Scholar]
  48. LockwoodJ. DaleyD. TownsendE. SayalK. Impulsivity and self-harm in adolescence: A systematic review.Eur. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry201726438740210.1007/s00787‑016‑0915‑5 27815757
    [Google Scholar]
  49. KlonskyE.D. Non-suicidal self-injury in United States adults: Prevalence, sociodemographics, topography and functions.Psychol. Med.20114191981198610.1017/S0033291710002497 21208494
    [Google Scholar]
  50. KirtleyO.J. O’CarrollR.E. O’ConnorR.C. Pain and self-harm: A systematic review.J. Affect. Disord.201620334736310.1016/j.jad.2016.05.068 27323296
    [Google Scholar]
  51. BresinK. GordonK.H. Endogenous opioids and nonsuicidal self-injury: A mechanism of affect regulation.Neurosci. Biobehav. Rev.201337337438310.1016/j.neubiorev.2013.01.020 23339875
    [Google Scholar]
  52. MarcoJ.H. Garcia-AlandeteJ. PérezS. Meaning in life and non-suicidal self-injury: A follow-up study with participants with Borderline Personality Disorder.Psychiatry Res.2015230256156610.1016/j.psychres.2015.10.004 26493324
    [Google Scholar]
  53. PérezS. MarcoJ.H. AlandeteG.J. Comparison of clinical and demographic characteristics among borderline personality disorder patients with and without suicidal attempts and non-suicidal self-injury behaviors.Psychiatry Res.2014220393594010.1016/j.psychres.2014.09.001 25312392
    [Google Scholar]
  54. BresinK. Five indices of emotion regulation in participants with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury: A daily diary study.Behav. Ther.2014451566610.1016/j.beth.2013.09.005 24411115
    [Google Scholar]
  55. McKenzieK.C. GrossJ.J. Nonsuicidal self-injury: An emotion regulation perspective.Psychopathology201447420721910.1159/000358097 24526099
    [Google Scholar]
  56. NockM.K. WedigM.M. HolmbergE.B. HooleyJ.M. The emotion reactivity scale: Development, evaluation, and relation to self-injurious thoughts and behaviors.Behav. Ther.200839210711610.1016/j.beth.2007.05.005 18502244
    [Google Scholar]
  57. NockM.K. PrinsteinM.J. A functional approach to the assessment of self-mutilative behavior.J. Consult. Clin. Psychol.200472588589010.1037/0022‑006X.72.5.885 15482046
    [Google Scholar]
  58. MuehlenkampJ. BrauschA. QuigleyK. WhitlockJ. Interpersonal features and functions of nonsuicidal self-injury.Suicide Life Threat. Behav.2013431678010.1111/j.1943‑278X.2012.00128.x 23082783
    [Google Scholar]
  59. WalrathR. Characteristics of adolescent who engage in non-suicidal self-injury.PBSIJ20172555559610.19080/PBSIJ.2017.02.555596
    [Google Scholar]
  60. MetteS.R.A. LawrenceH.R. Peer socialization of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents’ close friendships.J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.201947111851186210.1007/s10802‑019‑00569‑8 31209626
    [Google Scholar]
  61. PrinsteinM.J. HeilbronN. GuerryJ.D. Peer influence and nonsuicidal self injury: longitudinal results in community and clinically-referred adolescent samples.J. Abnorm. Child Psychol.201038566968210.1007/s10802‑010‑9423‑0 20437255
    [Google Scholar]
  62. BriereJ. GilE. Self-mutilation in clinical and general population samples: Prevalence, correlates, and functions.Am. J. Orthopsychiatry199868460962010.1037/h0080369 9809120
    [Google Scholar]
  63. WeiY. RenP. QinX. ZhangY. LuoF. ChenC. Adolescent peer victimization and deliberate self-harm: A three-wave moderated mediation model.J. Interpers. Violence2023381-256558710.1177/08862605221082740 35358398
    [Google Scholar]
  64. AngelakisI. AustinJ.L. GoodingP. Association of childhood maltreatment with suicide behaviors among young people.JAMA Netw. Open202038e201256310.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.12563 32756929
    [Google Scholar]
  65. LaporteN. Klein TuenteS. OzolinsA. WestrinÅ. WestlingS. WalliniusM. Emotion regulation and self-harm among forensic psychiatric patients.Front. Psychol.20211271075110.3389/fpsyg.2021.710751 34504461
    [Google Scholar]
  66. WolffJ.C. ThompsonE. ThomasS.A. Emotion dysregulation and non-suicidal self-injury: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Eur. Psychiatry201959253610.1016/j.eurpsy.2019.03.004 30986729
    [Google Scholar]
  67. AndoverM.S. MorrisB.W. Expanding and clarifying the role of emotion regulation in nonsuicidal self-injury.Can. J. Psychiatry2014591156957510.1177/070674371405901102 25565472
    [Google Scholar]
  68. RahmanF. WebbR.T. WittkowskiA. Risk factors for self-harm repetition in adolescents: A systematic review.Clin. Psychol. Rev.20218810204810.1016/j.cpr.2021.102048 34119893
    [Google Scholar]
  69. De LucaL. GilettaM. NocentiniA. MenesiniE. Non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence: The role of pre-existing vulnerabilities and COVID-19-related stress.J. Youth Adolesc.202251122383239510.1007/s10964‑022‑01669‑3 35986870
    [Google Scholar]
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822289247240305044908
Loading
/content/journals/cprr/10.2174/0126660822289247240305044908
Loading

Data & Media loading...

This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a Success
Invalid data
An Error Occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error
Please enter a valid_number test