title: Co-Occurring Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Firesetting Among At-Risk Adolescents: Experiences of Negative Life Events, Mental Health Problems, Substance Use, and Suicidality.
abstract: Co-occurring internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors in adolescence typically marks more severe psychopathology and poorer psychosocial functioning than engagement in a single problem behavior. We examined the negative life events, emotional and behavioral problems, substance use, and suicidality of school-based adolescents reporting both non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and repetitive firesetting, compared to those engaging in either behavior alone. Differences in NSSI characteristics among self-injurers who set fires, compared to those who did not, were also assessed. A total of 384 at-risk adolescents aged 12-18 years (58.8% female) completed self-report questionnaires measuring NSSI, firesetting, and key variables of interest. Results suggest that adolescents who both self-injure and deliberately set fires represent a low-prevalence but distinct high-risk subgroup, characterized by increased rates of interpersonal difficulties, mental health problems and substance use, more severe self-injury, and suicidal behavior. Implications for prevention and early intervention initiatives are discussed.
authors.forename: Alicia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tanner
authors.forename: Penelope
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hasking
authors.forename: Graham
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D058445:Bullying / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002648:Child; D002649:Child Abuse / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005391:Firesetting Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D000066553:Problem Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D057566:Self Report; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D059020:Suicidal Ideation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: NSSI; adolescence; firesetting; problem behaviors; suicide