Letter to the Editor
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2025. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Psychiatry. Mar 19, 2025; 15(3): 103258
Published online Mar 19, 2025. doi: 10.5498/wjp.v15.i3.103258
Can decoding the complex web of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents pave the way for tailored interventions?
Haewon Byeon
Haewon Byeon, Workcare Digital Health Lab, Department of Convergence, Korea University of Technology and Education, Cheonan 31253, South Korea
Author contributions: Byeon H contributed to this article by participating in data interpretation and writing the article.
Supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea funded by the Ministry of Education, No. RS-2023-00237287.
Conflict-of-interest statement: The author has no conflicts of interest to declare.
Open Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Haewon Byeon, Associate Professor, PhD, Workcare Digital Health Lab, Department of Convergence, Korea University of Technology and Education, No. 1600 Chungjeol-ro, Cheonan 31253, South Korea. bhwpuma@naver.com
Received: November 14, 2024
Revised: January 3, 2025
Accepted: January 11, 2025
Published online: March 19, 2025
Processing time: 104 Days and 19.5 Hours
Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent and concerning issue in adolescent mental health, often intertwined with depressive symptoms. Despite extensive research on NSSI, a comprehensive understanding of its multifaceted nature and the intricate interplay of risk and resilience factors remains crucial. This Letter to the Editor examines a novel study by Yang et al, which utilized latent profile analysis and network analysis to delineate distinct NSSI subtypes within a Chinese adolescent population and investigate the underlying dynamics of associated factors. The study identifies three distinct NSSI subtypes: NSSI with depression, NSSI without depression, and neither, underscoring bullying as a prominent risk factor. Concurrently, the findings emphasized the pivotal role of emotional regulation and family support as protective factors. The focus of this article is to contextualize these findings within the broader framework of adolescent mental health and to highlight their implications for developing targeted interventions. These insights not only advance our understanding of adolescent NSSI but also provide a foundation for the development of targeted interventions that address the identified risk and protective factors. By focusing on these critical areas, mental health professionals can implement more effective strategies to mitigate NSSI behaviors and cultivate resilience in this vulnerable population.

Keywords: Non-suicidal self-injury; Adolescents; Risk factors; Protective factors; Bullying; Emotional regulation

Core Tip: Adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury exhibit distinct behavioral subtypes, as identified through innovative analytical methods. Recognizing bullying as a central risk factor, alongside emotional regulation and family support as critical protective elements, offers valuable insights for mental health professionals. By focusing on these nuanced dynamics, professionals can design and implement more effective, tailored interventions aimed at reducing non-suicidal self-injury behaviors and bolstering resilience in this vulnerable population. Understanding these intricate interactions is crucial to enhancing therapeutic strategies and outcomes for adolescents at risk.