Kim Isak, Park Gahyun, Jung Hayoung, Lee Donghun
Department of Counseling, University of Nebraska Omaha, Omaha, USA.
Department of Educational Studies, The Ohio State University, Columbus, USA.
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2025 May 22. doi: 10.1007/s10578-025-01845-z.
To identify heterogeneous patterns of non-suicidal self-injury among Korean youths and examine the associations with sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics. We studied 701 Korean youths aged 9 to 24 with a history of NSSI. Using latent class analysis (LCA), we identified NSSI patterns within the sample, employing R3STEP and DU3STEP features to explore predictors and distal outcomes across identified classes. Eight NSSI methods were included as indicators of LCA (e.g., cutting skin, hitting oneself, pulling out hair, and burning skin). Predictors encompassed sociodemographic factors, receipt of mental health services, and traumatic experiences. Distal outcomes evaluated NSSI-related psychosocial and clinical characteristics (e.g., NSSI severity, suicide behavior, self-esteem, automatic thoughts). As a result of LCA, we identified a 4-class model: Skin-damaging (15.84%), Hitting/Cutting (32.10%), Cutting (25.68%), and Multiple methods (26.39%). Significant predictors included past or present psychiatric treatments and the number of traumatic experiences. Distal outcomes differed across the classes overall, with Multiple Methods demonstrating the most severe psychosocial and clinical symptoms and Skin-damaging milder than other classes. Specifically, youths in Multiple Methods class showed the most severe NSSI, the highest social exposure to NSSI, most frequent automatic negative thoughts, highest suicidal behaviors, lowest self-esteem, least positive body image, and minimal time spent on body care and protection. This study reveals heterogeneous NSSI patterns among Korean youths, with associations with sociodemographic, psychosocial, and clinical characteristics. The findings emphasize the importance of pattern-based screening and tailored interventions for youths based on their NSSI patterns.
识别韩国青少年非自杀性自伤的异质性模式，并研究其与社会人口学、心理社会和临床特征之间的关联。我们对701名有非自杀性自伤史的9至24岁韩国青少年进行了研究。使用潜在类别分析（LCA），我们在样本中识别出自伤模式，并采用R3STEP和DU3STEP特征来探索已识别类别中的预测因素和远端结果。八种非自杀性自伤方法被纳入作为潜在类别分析的指标（例如，割伤皮肤、击打自己、拔头发和烧伤皮肤）。预测因素包括社会人口学因素、接受心理健康服务情况和创伤经历。远端结果评估了与非自杀性自伤相关的心理社会和临床特征（例如，非自杀性自伤严重程度、自杀行为、自尊、自动思维）。作为潜在类别分析的结果，我们确定了一个四类别模型：皮肤损伤型（15.84%）、击打/割伤型（32.10%）、割伤型（25.68%）和多种方法型（26.39%）。显著的预测因素包括过去或现在接受的精神科治疗以及创伤经历的数量。总体而言，不同类别之间的远端结果存在差异，多种方法型表现出最严重的心理社会和临床症状，而皮肤损伤型比其他类别症状较轻。具体而言，多种方法型类别的青少年表现出最严重的非自杀性自伤、最高的非自杀性自伤社会暴露度、最频繁的自动消极思维、最高的自杀行为、最低的自尊、最消极的身体形象以及最少的身体护理和保护时间。这项研究揭示了韩国青少年中存在异质性的非自杀性自伤模式，并与社会人口学、心理社会和临床特征相关联。研究结果强调了基于模式的筛查以及根据青少年的非自杀性自伤模式进行针对性干预的重要性。
