Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment
BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant risk factor for suicide and has emerged as a growing public health concern among adolescents. Despite its severity, the consultation rate for NSSI among secondary school students remains notably low. While previous research has explored form...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1583373/full |
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| author | Xiaonv Fu Mingzhe Zhao Mingjin Luo Chenxia Ye Yating Wei Janyue Cao Haidong Song |
| author_facet | Xiaonv Fu Mingzhe Zhao Mingjin Luo Chenxia Ye Yating Wei Janyue Cao Haidong Song |
| author_sort | Xiaonv Fu |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant risk factor for suicide and has emerged as a growing public health concern among adolescents. Despite its severity, the consultation rate for NSSI among secondary school students remains notably low. While previous research has explored formal and informal help-seeking behaviors related to NSSI. In order to address this gap, this study aims to investigate the consultation rate and identify key factors associated with seeking medical treatment for NSSI.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving participants aged 12–20 years. The types and frequencies of NSSI were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Harm Questionnaire. Treatment-seeking behavior was evaluated through a self-developed questionnaire. Participants were recruited from both non-clinical settings (schools) and clinical settings (a tertiary hospital). Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with seeking professional consultation for NSSI.ResultsThe consultation rate for NSSI was 15.64%. A total of 1,777 valid questionnaires were collected, including 1,586 non-clinical samples from secondary schools and 191 clinical samples. Factors positively associated with seeking medical treatment among secondary school students with NSSI included family awareness (OR = 10.452, 95%CI = 5.719–19.100, p < 0.001), being an only child (OR = 4.452, 95%CI = 1.847–10.730, p = 0.001), help-seeking behavior (OR = 2.694, 95%CI = 1.285–5.647, p = 0.009), older age (OR = 2.137, 95%CI = 1.630–2.801, p < 0.001), female (OR = 1.919, 95%CI = 1.002–3.676, p = 0.049), family income (OR = 1.699, 95%CI = 1.214–2.377, p = 0.002). No statistically significant associations were observed for educational stage, residential area, maternal education level, or maternal relationship in relation to treatment-seeking behavior.ConclusionThis study reveals a low consultation rate (15.64%) for NSSI among adolescents. Family awareness, being an only child, seeking help or not, age, and family income are factors influencing the seeking of medical treatment. Among these, family awareness has the greatest impact, followed by Seeking help or not. We appeal to parents to pay attention to the mental health of adolescents, build a good family relationship, and make efforts to promote the seeking of medical treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-92e8e300b8dc459482b11b55d5688019 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj-art-92e8e300b8dc459482b11b55d56880192025-08-20T03:25:29ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782025-07-011610.3389/fpsyg.2025.15833731583373Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatmentXiaonv Fu0Mingzhe Zhao1Mingjin Luo2Chenxia Ye3Yating Wei4Janyue Cao5Haidong Song6Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaAffiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaAffiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaZhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, ChinaSchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaThe Fourth School of Clinic Medicine, Tuandong Middle School, Nanyang, Henan, ChinaAffiliated Mental Health Center and Hangzhou Seventh People's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, ChinaBackgroundNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a significant risk factor for suicide and has emerged as a growing public health concern among adolescents. Despite its severity, the consultation rate for NSSI among secondary school students remains notably low. While previous research has explored formal and informal help-seeking behaviors related to NSSI. In order to address this gap, this study aims to investigate the consultation rate and identify key factors associated with seeking medical treatment for NSSI.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study involving participants aged 12–20 years. The types and frequencies of NSSI were assessed using the Adolescent Self-Harm Questionnaire. Treatment-seeking behavior was evaluated through a self-developed questionnaire. Participants were recruited from both non-clinical settings (schools) and clinical settings (a tertiary hospital). Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify factors associated with seeking professional consultation for NSSI.ResultsThe consultation rate for NSSI was 15.64%. A total of 1,777 valid questionnaires were collected, including 1,586 non-clinical samples from secondary schools and 191 clinical samples. Factors positively associated with seeking medical treatment among secondary school students with NSSI included family awareness (OR = 10.452, 95%CI = 5.719–19.100, p < 0.001), being an only child (OR = 4.452, 95%CI = 1.847–10.730, p = 0.001), help-seeking behavior (OR = 2.694, 95%CI = 1.285–5.647, p = 0.009), older age (OR = 2.137, 95%CI = 1.630–2.801, p < 0.001), female (OR = 1.919, 95%CI = 1.002–3.676, p = 0.049), family income (OR = 1.699, 95%CI = 1.214–2.377, p = 0.002). No statistically significant associations were observed for educational stage, residential area, maternal education level, or maternal relationship in relation to treatment-seeking behavior.ConclusionThis study reveals a low consultation rate (15.64%) for NSSI among adolescents. Family awareness, being an only child, seeking help or not, age, and family income are factors influencing the seeking of medical treatment. Among these, family awareness has the greatest impact, followed by Seeking help or not. We appeal to parents to pay attention to the mental health of adolescents, build a good family relationship, and make efforts to promote the seeking of medical treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1583373/fullsecondary school studentnon-suicidal self-injuryseeking-helprate of consultationinfluencing factors |
| spellingShingle | Xiaonv Fu Mingzhe Zhao Mingjin Luo Chenxia Ye Yating Wei Janyue Cao Haidong Song Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment Frontiers in Psychology secondary school student non-suicidal self-injury seeking-help rate of consultation influencing factors |
| title | Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| title_full | Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| title_short | Prevalence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| title_sort | prevalence and influencing factors of non suicidal self injury among secondary school students seeking medical treatment |
| topic | secondary school student non-suicidal self-injury seeking-help rate of consultation influencing factors |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1583373/full |
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