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Emotional and Behavioral Problem Profiles of Preteens With Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors: A Multicultural
Lynsay Ayer1, Elie Ohana1, Masha Y Ivanova2
1RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia.
Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
|January 27, 2024
Summary
Most preteen children experiencing self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) show few other mental health issues. Universal screening for SITB is crucial, as focusing only on those with existing problems risks missing many affected youth.
Area of Science:
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
- Developmental Psychology
- Mental Health Research
Background:
- Self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (SITB) are a growing concern in preteen populations.
- Identifying distinct emotional and behavioral profiles is key for effective prevention and treatment targets.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify empirically derived emotional and behavioral problem profiles of preteens experiencing SITB.
- To determine if these profiles vary by age, gender, and societal context.
Main Methods:
- Latent profile analysis (LPA) was performed on Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL/6-18) data from 1,656 children aged 6-12 with SITB.
- Data were collected from caregivers of 46,719 children across 42 societies worldwide.
- Multilevel modeling analyzed profile differences based on SITB, society, sex, and age.
Main Results:
- A four-profile model emerged: low problems (39.7%), mild problems (42.6%), moderate problems (15.4%), and rule-breaking/thought problems (2.3%).
- The low problems profile was similar to children without SITB.
- The rule-breaking/thought problems group, predominantly female, showed the highest likelihood of both suicidal thoughts and self-harm behaviors, while other groups were predominantly male.
Conclusions:
- Preteen SITB profiles are diverse, with a majority exhibiting low levels of other psychopathology.
- Screening solely based on existing mental health conditions (e.g., depression) may overlook many children with SITB.
- This highlights the necessity of universal screening for SITB in preadolescent children.
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