Presentation Information
[P-13-02]Self-injury features (addictive features, modalities, and motives) and relationships with psychological factors, distal risk factors in adolescent inpatients aged 13–19: Network analysis and mediation path analysis
*AQian Hu1,2, ZiXin Mao4,3, WanJun Guo1,2,3 (1. Affiliated Mental Health Center & Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine (China), 2. Zhejiang university (China), 3. Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, West China Hospital, Sichuan University (China), 4. Yichang Mental Health Center (China))
Keywords:
Self-injury,Addictive features,Adolescents,Psychological factors,Stress
Background: Self-injury is an increasingly serious problem among adolescents and is associated with various mental health issues. However, little is known about the relationship between adolescent self-injury features and the underlying psychopathological mechanisms. This study aims to explore the relationships among self-injury features and the complex relationships with psychological factors and distal risk factors.
Methods: We recruited 471 hospitalized adolescents aged 13 to 19 who had engaged in self-injury within the past year. The study first classified self-injury by tool type into external-tool and own-body self-injury modalities. Network analysis was used to examine associations among self-injury features, such as addictive features, modalities, and motives. Using network analysis and mediating path analysis, we further explored the pathways between self-injury features and distal stressors (e.g., childhood trauma, adolescent stress) as well as proximal psychological symptoms (e.g., psychoticism, depression, anxiety, paranoid).
Results: Addictive features was the most central node in the self-injury features network; Psychoticism and depression were central nodes in the self-injury addictive features and risk factor network; In the pathways from distal risk factors, such as childhood trauma or adolescent stress, to self-injury addiction, psychological factors play a full or partial mediating role, respectively; Importantly, psychological factors influenced self-injury modalities differently: for external-tool self-injury, effects were mostly indirect via addiction and motives pathways; for own body self-injury, both direct and indirect effects were observed; External-tool self-injury exhibited higher addictive potential and stronger suicidal motives than own-body self-injury;
Conclusion: Addictive features are a core characteristic of self-injury and a critical target for intervention. Early intervention for psychological symptoms, especially psychoticism and depression, may prevent self-injury addiction triggered by distal risk factors. This study underscores the importance of tailoring intervention strategies according to different self-injury modalities. Specifically, external-tool self-injury requires early identification of suicidal motives and prevent addiction. Overall, this study offers valuable insights for early prevention and targeted intervention in adolescent self-injury.
Methods: We recruited 471 hospitalized adolescents aged 13 to 19 who had engaged in self-injury within the past year. The study first classified self-injury by tool type into external-tool and own-body self-injury modalities. Network analysis was used to examine associations among self-injury features, such as addictive features, modalities, and motives. Using network analysis and mediating path analysis, we further explored the pathways between self-injury features and distal stressors (e.g., childhood trauma, adolescent stress) as well as proximal psychological symptoms (e.g., psychoticism, depression, anxiety, paranoid).
Results: Addictive features was the most central node in the self-injury features network; Psychoticism and depression were central nodes in the self-injury addictive features and risk factor network; In the pathways from distal risk factors, such as childhood trauma or adolescent stress, to self-injury addiction, psychological factors play a full or partial mediating role, respectively; Importantly, psychological factors influenced self-injury modalities differently: for external-tool self-injury, effects were mostly indirect via addiction and motives pathways; for own body self-injury, both direct and indirect effects were observed; External-tool self-injury exhibited higher addictive potential and stronger suicidal motives than own-body self-injury;
Conclusion: Addictive features are a core characteristic of self-injury and a critical target for intervention. Early intervention for psychological symptoms, especially psychoticism and depression, may prevent self-injury addiction triggered by distal risk factors. This study underscores the importance of tailoring intervention strategies according to different self-injury modalities. Specifically, external-tool self-injury requires early identification of suicidal motives and prevent addiction. Overall, this study offers valuable insights for early prevention and targeted intervention in adolescent self-injury.