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.