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Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Firesetting: Shared and Unique Correlates Among School-Based Adolescents

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Abstract

Distinct behaviors such as non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and firesetting may represent functionally equivalent attempts to regulate difficult affective/cognitive or social experiences during adolescence. This study examined possible mechanisms leading to NSSI, as opposed to firesetting, as well as co-occurrence of these behaviors. Participants aged 12–18 years (N = 2,356; 67.5 % female) completed self-report questionnaires measuring NSSI and firesetting, as well as socio-demographic and psychosocial factors including personality traits related to impulsivity and anxiety, negative life events, emotion regulation, and coping. The findings indicated the presence of general risk factors (e.g., negative life events and poor coping) that increase the likelihood that adolescents will engage in any of a range of maladaptive behaviors. The probability of at-risk adolescents engaging in NSSI was increased by psychological states (i.e., rumination and poor self-esteem), whereas socio-demographic and personality traits were associated with firesetting. Implications for prevention and early intervention initiatives are discussed.

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Acknowledgments

This project was funded by the Australian Research Council. We would like to acknowledge the work of research staff Sophie Aitken, Emily Berger, Grace Skrzypiec and Lauren Friend, and research students Teryn Callaway, Megan Wisewould and Tori Andrews who assisted with data collection and entry.

Author contributions

AT conceived of the study, participated in data collection, performed the statistical analyses and drafted the manuscript. PH and GM designed and oversaw all stages of the study. PH contributed to manuscript preparation. GM edited and provided intellectual input on the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychological Sciences, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Alicia K. Tanner

  2. School of Psychology and Speech Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, 6845, Australia

    Penelope Hasking

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia

    Penelope Hasking

  4. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia

    Graham Martin

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  1. Alicia K. Tanner
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Correspondence to Penelope Hasking.

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Tanner, A.K., Hasking, P. & Martin, G. Non-suicidal Self-Injury and Firesetting: Shared and Unique Correlates Among School-Based Adolescents. J Youth Adolescence 44, 964–978 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10964-014-0119-6

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