Clustering Analysis of Risk Factors for Non-suicidal Self-injury (NSSI) Behaviors in Adolescents：A cross-sectional study of western China

Xin HouYuhang WuJiayu ZhaoJing LuoJinglong HeQian KangXuehua LiLing YuLei TangNa YongJiaming Luo^*

• North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China

Background and Objectives: The analysis of clustering characteristics of disease risk factors makes for the formulation of corresponding prevention and control policies, but the risk factors for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is not covered,so this study is intended to explore the clustering characteristics of risk factors for NSSI in adolescents in the multicenter primary and secondary schools in western China. Methods: Utilizing random cluster sampling method, a total of 13,784 primary and secondary school students who met the research standards were randomly selected as the survey subjects from January 2020 to January 2021, and the clustering situation of the seven risk factors among the students was analyzed. The characteristics of the respondents with a high clustering degree of risk factors for NSSI were also identified with the hierarchical logistic regression analysis. Results: 4.2% of the adolescents in western China were detected with NSSI behaviors in the past year; the risk factors were grouped into 4 clusters, ranging from level 0 to level 3, with each level including 7692, 3847, 1303 and 941 of the survey subjects, respectively. The results of the Cochran-Armitage trend test analysis showed that there existed a linear trend between the clustering degree of risk factors and the detection rate of NSSI (P<0.000); according to the hierarchical Logistic regression analysis, the clustering degree of risk factors for NSSI was higher in the adolescents whose parents divorced and remarried 1.21(0.016~0.373) and whose fathers received only primary school education or below 1.23 (0.005~0.404). By contrast, the degreewas lower in the adolescents who are male 0.93(-0.132~-0.003) and had never attended boarding school 0.83(-0.286~-0.096), whose parents were not divorced 0.80 ( -0.367~-0.072 ), and whose fathers were farmers 0.87(-0.271~0.006) . Conclusion: The risk factors for NSSI in adolescents are in clusters. As the risk factors continue to cluster, NSSI can be detected more easily in adolescents. With respect to the endeavors to prevent and control NSSI in adolescents, more attention should be focused on the mental health of the adolescents who are female and attend boarding schools, whose parents have broken marriages, and whose fathers have low literacy.