title: Functions of nonsuicidal self-injury among Chinese community adolescents.
abstract: This study examined functions of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) among a large sample of Chinese high school students over a six-month period. Among Chinese adolescents, we identified three factors of NSSI functions, namely, Affect Regulation, Social Influence, and Social Avoidance. Affect Regulation was the most frequently endorsed function of NSSI, followed by Social Influence and Social Avoidance. Adolescent male self-injurers were more likely to endorse the Social Influence function than their female counterparts. Moderate/Severe Self-injurers did not differ from Minor Self-injurers on the endorsement of various NSSI functions. All functions of NSSI exhibited small to moderate stability over the six-month assessment period. Findings suggest that Chinese adolescents engaged in NSSI for multiple reasons. These reasons also varied considerably over time within individuals. Assessment of NSSI should thus regularly assess functions of the behavior.
authors.affiliation: Center for Studies of Psychological Application & School of Psychology, South China Normal University, Shipai, Guangzhou, 510000, PR China. youjianing@gmail.com
authors.forename: Jianing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: You
authors.forename: Min-Pei
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Freedom
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Leung
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000208:ethnology / Q000523:psychology; D044466:Asian People / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D011594:Psychometrics; D012056:Reinforcement, Social; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000523:psychology*; D012932:Social Facilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Affect regulation; Function; Nonsuicidal self-injury; Social avoidance; Social influence