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Identifying High-Risk Subgroups of College Students with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Latent Profile Analysis and Two-Years Follow-up Study

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Abstract

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is associated with a heightened overall risk of future psychopathological problems. However, elucidating specific characteristics that determine an increased risk for certain individuals remains an area requiring further exploration. This study aimed to identify latent subgroups in a sample of college students with NSSI. Additionally, it sought to explore the differential associations of these subgroups with their psychopathological status (e.g., borderline symptoms and suicidal tendencies) both at baseline and after two years. The sample comprised 259 participants (89% females, Mage = 20.39, SD = 1.90) who reported engaging in NSSI in the last year. Three latent groups were found. The group exhibiting severe NSSI-features, high emotion dysregulation, and low perceived social support was the profile with high-risk of psychopathology both at baseline and follow-up. The findings enhance our understanding of the complex association between NSSI and future mental health issues, aiding in the early identification of at-risk individuals.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are grateful to all participants in the study for their contribution.

Authors’ Contributions

C.S. performed the statistical analysis of the data and drafted the manuscript; S.N. drafted and edited the manuscript; J.C.P. supported the statistical analysis of the data, edited and reviewed the manuscript; J.P., participated in the conceptualization and design of the study, edited and reviewed the manuscript; A.L. participated in the conceptualization and design of the study, edited and reviewed the manuscript; A.S. participated in the design and coordination of the study and reviewed the manuscript; I.M. participated in the design and coordination of the study and reviewed the manuscript; S.R. participated in the design and coordination of the study and reviewed the manuscript; P.S-P. participated in the conceptualization and design of the study, managed the data acquisition, edited and reviewed the manuscript; L.B-B. coordinated and collected the data acquisition; J.S. supported the statistical analysis of the data, edited and reviewed the manuscript; D.V. conceived the study, managed the project and obtained funding, drafted and edited the manuscript, and participated in the statistical analysis of the data. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Funding

This project was funded by the Catalan government with a PERIS project fellowship (Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya) [reference number SLT006/17/00159]; CS was supported by the National Agency for Research and Development (ANID) / Scholarship Program / Doctorado Becas Chile [reference number 72190624]; SN is supported by a fellowship from “La Caixa” Foundation [ID 100010434; code: LCF/BQ/DR21/11880013].

Data Sharing and Declaration

The data supporting this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.

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Correspondence to Daniel Vega.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

Ethical Approval

All procedures were approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of Bellvitge University Hospital (protocol number: PR330/17).

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All participants in this study provided informed consent electronically.

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Schmidt, C., Nicolaou, S., Pascual, J.C. et al. Identifying High-Risk Subgroups of College Students with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Latent Profile Analysis and Two-Years Follow-up Study. J. Youth Adolescence 53, 1370–1382 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-01970-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-024-01970-3

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