Journal List > J Korean Acad Community Health Nurs > v.28(3) > 1058468

Kim and Yu: Factors Contributing to Non-suicidal Self Injury in Korean Adolescents

Abstract

Purpose

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI), a highly prevalent behavior in adolescents, refers to the direct destruction of one’s body tissue without suicidal intent. To date, the prevalence of adolescent self-injury in South Korea and its associated factors remain unknown. This study aims to determine the prevalence of self-injury in Korean adolescents as well as its associated factors.

Methods

We assessed 717 middle school students by means of an anonymous self-report survey. Information about demographic characteristics, lifestyle, anxiety and depression, self-esteem, and parenting behavior was obtained. Data were analyzed using x2 test, t-test and multiple logistic regression.

Results

NSSI was reported by 8.8% of respondents. Univariate analyses showed associations of exposure to alcohol use, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and parenting methods with self-injury. In multiple analyses, alcohol use, anxiety, and parental abuse were associated with lifetime self-injury.

Conclusion

The rate of NSSI in the South Korea was found to be lower than those of other countries. As our study suggests that alcohol use, anxiety, and parental abuse are associated with lifetime self-injury, health care providers at school should take these factors into account when developing prevention and intervention programs for adolescents.

References

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Table 1.
Comparative General Characteristics according to the Presence of NSSI (N=717)
Variables Categories Without NSSI NSSI x2 p
n (%) n (%)
Total 654 (91.2) 63 (8.8)
Gender Male 346 (92.0) 30 (8.0) 0.64 .431
Female 308 (90.3) 33 (9.7)
Middle school grade 1 254 (89.4) 30 (10.6) 3.15 .207
2 223 (91.0) 22 (9.0)
3 177 (99.4) 1 (0.6)
Living-father family No 36 (85.7) 6 (14.3) 1.68 .253
Yes 618 (91.6) 57 (8.4)
Living-mother family No 26 (85.7) 5 (14.3) 2.71 .181
Yes 628 (90.1) 58 (9.9)
Self-reported school achievement High 264 (88.9) 33 (11.1) 2.32 .312
Medium 210 (92.5) 17 (7.5)
Low 180 (88.7) 23 (11.3)
Stress No 168 (94.4) 10 (5.6) 2.96 .054
Yes 486 (90.2) 53 (9.8)
Alcohol consumption No 625 (92.9) 48 (7.1) 37.45 <.001
Yes 29 (65.9) 15 (34.1)
Current smoking No 640 (92.9) 59 (7.1) 4.15 .065
Yes 14 (77.8) 4 (22.2)
Perceived health status Poor 50 (89.3) 6 (10.7) 1.53 .463
Fair 189 (89.6) 22 (10.4)
Good 415 (92.2) 35 (7.8)
Table 2.
Descriptive Statistics on Methods of NSSI (N=63)
Characteristics Categories NSSI x2 p
Total Boy Girl
n (%) n (%) n (%)
Carving word on body No 32 (50.8)
Yes 31 (49.2) 16 (51.6) 15 (48.4) 0.39 .532
Carving marks on body No 32 (50.8)
Yes 31 (49.2) 17 (54.8) 14 (45.2) 1.27 .259
Wrist-cutting No 43 (68.3)
Yes 20 (31.7) 5 (25.0) 15 (75.0) 6.01 .014
Head banging No 44 (69.8)
Yes 19 (30.2) 10 (52.6) 9 (47.4) 0.27 .601
Self-scratching No 46 (73.0)
Yes 17 (27.0) 7 (41.2) 10 (58.8) 0.38 .534
Sharp objects into body No 49 (77.8)
Yes 14 (22.2) 4 (28.6) 10 (71.4) 2.61 .136
Biting No 55 (87.3)
Yes 8 (12.7) 1 (12.5) 7 (87.5) 4.53 .056
Self-punching No 55 (87.3)
Yes 8 (12.7) 3 (37.5) 5 (62.5) 0.37 .710
Prevented wounds from healing No 55 (87.7)
Yes 8 (12.7) 1 (12.5) 7 (87.5) 4.53 .056
Rubbing sandpaper No 60 (95.2)
Yes 3 (4.8) 0 (0.0) 3 (100.0) 2.86 .240
Bleach scrubbing No 62 (98.4)
Yes 1 (1.6) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0.92 1.00
Rub glass into skin No 62 (98.4)
Yes 1 (1.6) 1 (100.0) 0 (0.0) 1.19 .476
Breaking bones No 62 (98.4)
Yes 1 (1.6) 0 (0.0) 1 (100.0) 0.92 1.00
Other forms of self-harm No 57 (90.5)
Yes 6 (9.5) 0 (0.0) 6 (100.0) 6.02 .025
Table 3.
Comparison of Anxiety, Depression, Self-esteem, Parents' Neglected Attitude, Parents' Abused Attitude (N=717)
Variables Without NSSI NSSI t p
M±SD M±SD
Anxiety 5.34±3.28 7.79±4.12 -5.51 <.001
Depression 4.80±3.18 6.23±3.66 -3.36 .001
Self-esteem 30.60±4.94 27.06±5.69 5.31 <.001
Parents' neglected attitude 6.30±2.10 7.50±2.10 -4.30 <.001
Parents' abused attitude 6.40±2.27 8.31±3.13 -6.12 <.001
Table 4.
Logistic Regression Analysis for Variables Predicting Engagement in Non-suicidal Self-injury (N=717)
Variables aOR 95% Confidence interval p
Alcohol consumption 4.95 2.28~10.75 <.001
Anxiety 1.12 1.01~1.23 .027
Depression 0.97 0.87~1.08 .625
Self esteem 0.95 0.89~1.03 .242
Parents' neglected attitude 1.12 0.98~1.29 .090
Parents’ abused attitude 1.21 1.08~1.35 <.001
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