Nonsuicidal self-injury risk factors among adolescents in Japan: A population-based study

• Shoko Hamada

  Meiji University

• Hitoshi Kaneko

  Nagoya University

• Masayoshi Ogura

  Naruto University of Education

• Lauri Sillanmäki

  University of Turku and Turku University Hospital

• Andre Sourander

  Department of Child Psychiatry, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; and INVEST Research Flagship, University of Turku

Few researchers have explored the prevalence and impact of risk factors of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in community-dwelling Japanese adolescents. We used a survey to assess NSSI-associated factors; somatic symptoms; and sleep, psychiatric, and eating problems in a sample of 1,840 Japanese 8th grade students. Associations were examined via logistic regression analyses. Among the students, 34.6% engaged in either self-hitting or self-cutting. A significant association was found between abdominal pain, sleep disturbance, conduct issues, and eating problems on one hand, and self-hitting without self-cutting as well as self-cutting with or without self-hitting on the other. Emotional problems were associated with self-hitting, and headaches and peer relationship problems were associated with self-cutting. Participants who engaged in both self-cutting and self-hitting reported more headaches and conduct problems than those who engaged only in self-cutting, suggesting a greater level of mental disturbance in these adolescents. These problems should be given serious attention by clinicians when evaluating adolescents regarding the presence of NSSI.

1. Shoko Hamada, Meiji University
   Department of Psychosociology, School of Arts and Letters
2. Hitoshi Kaneko, Nagoya University
   Psychological Support and Research Center for Human Development
3. Masayoshi Ogura, Naruto University of Education
   Graduate School of Education
4. Lauri Sillanmäki, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital
   Department of Child Psychiatry

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