Variation in nonsuicidal self-injury: identification and features of latent classes in a college population of emerging adults.
Prior studies of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) suggest the existence of multiple NSSI typologies. Using data from 2,101 university students, this study employed latent class analysis to investigate NSSI typologies. Results show a good fitting 3-class solution with distinct quantitative and qualitative differences. Class 1 was composed largely of women using 1 form to engage in superficial tissue damage with moderate (< 11) lifetime incidents. Class 2 was composed predominately of men using 1 to 3 forms to engage in self-battery and light tissue damage, with low (2-10) lifetime incidents. Class 3 was composed largely of women using more than 3 self-injury forms and engaging in behaviors with the potential for a high degree of tissue damage with moderate to high numbers of lifetime incidents. All 3 classes were at elevated risk for adverse conditions when compared to no-NSSI respondents. We conclude that NSSI typologies exist and may warrant differential clinical assessment and treatment.
Whitlock
Janis
J
Family Life Development Center and Department of Human Development, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA. jlw43@cornell.edu
Muehlenkamp
Jennifer
J
Eckenrode
John
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult