Unit:
Κατεύθυνση Ψυχική Υγεία και Ψυχιατρική Παιδιών και ΕφήβωνLibrary of the School of Health Sciences
Supervisors info:
Γεώργιος Γιαννακόπουλος, Επίκουρος Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεράσιμος Κολαΐτης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Χαρά Τζαβάρα, Διδάκτωρ, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Original Title:
Διερεύνηση της σχέσης της αυτοτραυματικής αυμπεριφοράς με τα προβλήματα ψυχικής υγείας των εφήβων και την τραυματική εμπειρία της πανδημίας COVID-19
Translated title:
Investigating the relationship of self-injurious behaviour with adolescent mental health problems and the traumatic experience of the COVID-19 pandemic
Summary:
Background: Adolescent self-injury has emerged as a particularly concerning mental health issue due to the associated adverse effects on both their mental well-being and psychosocial development.
Aim: Ιnvestigating the relationship of self-injurious behavior with adolescent mental health problems and the traumatic experience of the COVID-19 pandemic was the aim of this cross-sectional study.
Methods: The research was carried out in the framework of the Cross-Country Study "Psychosocial problems of 13-16 year-olds before and during the recovery phase of the COVID-19 pandemic"of Child and Adolescents Mental Health Study (GCAMHS) network". In total, 5612 (13,42 ± 0,96) adolescents participated in the present study. The "Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ)" and the "Impact of Events Scale-Revised (CRIES-8)" were used to collect the data. Adolescent self-injurious behavior was assessed with a self-report question. In addition, participants' demographic characteristics, stressful experiences in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and suicidality were assessed.
Results: Adolescents with increasing emotional, behavioral and peer problems were more likely to engage in self-injurious behavior than adolescents without these problems (p<0,05 for all comparisons). Furthermore, adolescents with increasing intrusive symptoms related to the traumatic experience of the COVID-19 pandemic were more likely to engage in self- injurious behavior than those without these symptoms (OR=1,03, 95% CI [1,01, 1,05]). However, none of the stressful experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic appeared to have a significant effect on adolescent self-injury (p>0,05 for all comparisons). Finally, female gender, suicidal ideation and history of suicide attempt had an aggravating effect on self- injurious behavior (p<0,05 for all comparisons).
Conclusions: The results of the present study suggest that self-injury among adolescents is associated with negative effects in terms of their mental health and therefore its early detection and treatment is considered necessary.
Main subject category:
Health Sciences
Keywords:
Self-injurious behavior, Adolescence, Emotional/behavioral problems, Intrusive symptoms, COVID-19 pandemic
Number of references:
255
