The development of NSSI during adolescence

Up to 40% of Swedish adolescents report deliberately harming themselves (e.g., cutting or burning themselves), without intending suicide. The aim of this project is to strengthen prevention efforts through understanding the ways that this self-injury changes during adolescence. Understanding whose self-harm increases and whose decreases during adolescence is important because it tells us when to apply prevention/intervention efforts and who needs these efforts the most.

Using longitudinal data from the 3 Cities Study (2013-2018), we will be identifying different paths of change and how these relate to individual characteristics and interpersonal processes. The goal is to understand what prompts desisting and what instigates escalation of self-injury. Identifying such issues is vital for informing prevention and intervention efforts for adolescents.