Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis
Abstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depressive symptoms are two major public health issues among adolescents. Moreover, they can often co-occur, which can lead to additional negative outcomes, such as suicidal behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the comorbidity patt...
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2025-04-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06806-3 |
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| author | Qiannan Jia Zhongying Wu Bin Liu Yuting Feng Wei Liang Danxia Liu Lei Song Caina Li Qun Yang |
| author_facet | Qiannan Jia Zhongying Wu Bin Liu Yuting Feng Wei Liang Danxia Liu Lei Song Caina Li Qun Yang |
| author_sort | Qiannan Jia |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depressive symptoms are two major public health issues among adolescents. Moreover, they can often co-occur, which can lead to additional negative outcomes, such as suicidal behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the comorbidity patterns of NSSI and depressive symptoms and provide valuable insights for future interventions. Methods This study examined the relationship between NSSI and depressive symptoms via a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN). A total of 866 Chinese junior high school students (39.80% girls, M age = 12.73 years, SD = 0.43) completed measurements during three time points. Results Comorbidity rates of NSSI and depressive symptoms ranged from 10.51 to 15.13% among the adolescents. Moreover, results of the CLPN indicated that somatic and retarded activity, depressive affect, and lack of positive affect were strongly and positively associated with multiple NSSI behaviors. Conversely, burning from the NSSI cluster could negatively predict somatic and retarded activity and depressive affect. In addition, somatic and retarded activity and depressed affect were bridge symptoms that linked the comorbidity between NSSI and depressive symptoms. Conclusion These results demonstrate a negative reinforcement feedback pathway between NSSI and depressive symptoms, which provides evidence for intrapersonal negative reinforcement of NSSI. Furthermore, these findings identify the core and bridge symptoms between NSSI and depressive symptoms, which can provide new ideas for subsequent intervention treatments. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d8bb4d259b2548acac378c3caeb8ddb1 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-d8bb4d259b2548acac378c3caeb8ddb12025-08-20T03:06:50ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2025-04-0125111010.1186/s12888-025-06806-3Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysisQiannan Jia0Zhongying Wu1Bin Liu2Yuting Feng3Wei Liang4Danxia Liu5Lei Song6Caina Li7Qun Yang8Department of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityCollege of Basic Medical Sciences, Air Force Medical UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversitySchool of Psychology, Shaanxi Normal UniversityDepartment of Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical UniversityAbstract Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and depressive symptoms are two major public health issues among adolescents. Moreover, they can often co-occur, which can lead to additional negative outcomes, such as suicidal behaviors. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the comorbidity patterns of NSSI and depressive symptoms and provide valuable insights for future interventions. Methods This study examined the relationship between NSSI and depressive symptoms via a cross-lagged panel network (CLPN). A total of 866 Chinese junior high school students (39.80% girls, M age = 12.73 years, SD = 0.43) completed measurements during three time points. Results Comorbidity rates of NSSI and depressive symptoms ranged from 10.51 to 15.13% among the adolescents. Moreover, results of the CLPN indicated that somatic and retarded activity, depressive affect, and lack of positive affect were strongly and positively associated with multiple NSSI behaviors. Conversely, burning from the NSSI cluster could negatively predict somatic and retarded activity and depressive affect. In addition, somatic and retarded activity and depressed affect were bridge symptoms that linked the comorbidity between NSSI and depressive symptoms. Conclusion These results demonstrate a negative reinforcement feedback pathway between NSSI and depressive symptoms, which provides evidence for intrapersonal negative reinforcement of NSSI. Furthermore, these findings identify the core and bridge symptoms between NSSI and depressive symptoms, which can provide new ideas for subsequent intervention treatments.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06806-3Depressive symptomsNon-suicidal self-injuryComorbidityCross-lagged panel networkChinese adolescents |
| spellingShingle | Qiannan Jia Zhongying Wu Bin Liu Yuting Feng Wei Liang Danxia Liu Lei Song Caina Li Qun Yang Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis BMC Psychiatry Depressive symptoms Non-suicidal self-injury Comorbidity Cross-lagged panel network Chinese adolescents |
| title | Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis |
| title_full | Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis |
| title_fullStr | Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis |
| title_short | Exploring the longitudinal relationships between non-suicidal self-injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents: a cross-lagged panel network analysis |
| title_sort | exploring the longitudinal relationships between non suicidal self injury and depressive symptoms in adolescents a cross lagged panel network analysis |
| topic | Depressive symptoms Non-suicidal self-injury Comorbidity Cross-lagged panel network Chinese adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12888-025-06806-3 |
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