Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence: The Role of Pre-Existing Vulnerabilities and COVID-19-Related Stress

• DOI: 10.1007/s10964-022-01669-3
• Publication Date: 2022-08-20T14:02:32Z
• Authors: Lisa De Luca; Matteo Giletta; Annalaura Nocentini; Ersilia Menesini
• Keywords: Male; Adolescence; COVID-19-related stress; Longitudinal study; Non-suicidal self-injury; Pre-existing vulnerabilities; Female; Adolescent; Humans; Male; Longitudinal Studies; Pandemics; Emotions; Risk Factors; COVID-19; Self-Injurious Behavior; Adolescent; Emotions; Social Sciences; COVID-19; Empirical Research; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; Risk Factors; Humans; Female; Longitudinal Studies; Pandemics; Self-Injurious Behavior

AbstractFor many adolescents, the COVID-19 pandemic represents a uniquely challenging period, and concerns have been raised about whether COVID-19-related stress may increase the risk for self-injurious behaviors among adolescents. This study examined the impact of pre-existing vulnerabilities on the occurrence and frequency of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) through COVID-19-related stress, and whether the impact of COVID-19-related stress on NSSI was buffered by the perceived social support during the pandemic. Participants were 1061 adolescents (52.40% females; Mage = 15.49 years, SD = 0.76) from a two-wave longitudinal study, which included assessments before the COVID-19 onset and one year later the declaration of the pandemic. Path analyses showed that adolescents with a prior history of NSSI, higher levels of internalizing symptoms, and poor regulatory emotional self-efficacy before the COVID-19 pandemic reported higher levels of COVID-19-related stress which in turn increased their risk to engage in NSSI. Besides, the findings did not support the role of social support as a moderator of the association between COVID-19 related stress and the occurrence/frequency of NSSI. These findings suggest that enhanced stress perception may serve as a key pathway for the continuation and development of NSSI among vulnerable adolescents facing adverse life events.