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Published on: March 17, 2019
The Longitudinal Reciprocal Relations of Adolescents' Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Ideation and the
Xin Han1,2,3,4,5,6, Chuhan Wang1,2,3,4,5, Zixi Huang1,2,3,4,5
1Center for Studies of Psychological Application, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, China.
Background:
In recent years, the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidal ideation (SI) has been continuously increasing among adolescents, making it a global public health concern. While previous studies have identified a close relationship between NSSI and SI, few have delved into their reciprocal relationship and the underlying mechanisms.
Aims:
This study aimed to examine the longitudinal relation between NSSI and SI, and the mediating role of irritability in the bidirectional association.
Materials And Methods:
This study used the Brief Irritability Test (BIT), the Deliberate Self- Harm Inventory (DSHI), and the Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation Chinese version (BSICV) in a three-wave longitudinal survey among 1711 Chinese adolescents (MAge = 14.44 years, SD = 1.35; 54.7% females), with 6-month intervals. Data were analyzed by using the random intercept cross-lagged panel model (RI-CLPM).
Results:
The results revealed that: (1) At the between-person level, NSSI, irritability, and SI were all positively associated with one another. (2) Greater within-person NSSI predicted future greater SI and vice versa. (3) Greater within-person irritability predicted future greater SI and NSSI, and vice versa. (4) Irritability acted as a mediator in the bidirectional relations between NSSI and SI.
Discussion:
The study proposed a dynamic and integrative perspective on the longitudinal relation among NSSI, irritability, and SI, emphasizing the evolving nature of these reciprocal relationships.
Conclusion:
These findings underscore the importance of addressing irritability in adolescents and highlight the need to enhance adolescents' emotional regulation skills to effectively mitigate the risk of NSSI and SI.
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