Cumulative Risks and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: Protective
Effect of Personality Strengths
Abstract
Non-suicidal self-injury is an important public health problem, which is
closely related to suicidal behavior and has attracted wide attention
from researchers. This study recruited 1207 adolescents to
systematically explore the relationship between cumulative risks and
non-suicidal self-injuries using scales and questionnaires. It also
compared the influences of various risk factors on self-injurious
behaviour and researched the protective effect of personality strengths
(mindfulness, hope, openness, grit, and meaning in life) as resilience
factors. The results showed that the significant predictive effects of
cumulative risks on adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury and adverse
childhood experiences are greater predictors of adolescents’
non-suicidal self-injury than negative life events. Mindfulness and
meaning in life are two protectors co-moderating the effects of
cumulative risk on adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury. This study has
important implications for a better understanding of resilience. And
more intervention and prevention strategies based on personality
strengths for individuals experiencing adversity and stress could be
effective in improving their psychosocial functioning.