title: Risk factors associated with self-injurious behavior among a national sample of undergraduate college students.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicidality among undergraduates represent important public health issues. This analysis identified risk factors that distinguished 3 groups, those who reported no history of self-harm; self-injury, but no suicide attempts (NSSI only); and self-injury and a suicide attempt (NSSI + SA) in the past year.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data came from 16,044 undergraduates who completed the Fall 2010 National College Health Assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over 3% of students reported NSSI, and one third of these individuals also attempted suicide. Factors that distinguished the NSSI only and NSSI + SA groups from the no self-harm group included current depressive symptoms, nonheterosexual orientation, an eating disorder/extreme weight control behavior, and diagnosis of an internalizing disorder. Factors that distinguished the NSSI + SA group from the NSSI only group were current depressive symptoms and diagnosis of an internalizing disorder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students experiencing mental health problems demonstrate increased risk for NSSI and/or suicidal behavior.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Health Sciences and Human Performance University of Tampa Tampa , Florida.
authors.forename: Lindsay A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Taliaferro
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muehlenkamp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000209:etiology* / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013406:Suicide, Attempted / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: mental health; prevention; risk; self-injury; suicide