Functions of non-suicidal self-injury in late adolescence: A latent class analysis
Case, J.A.C., Burke, T.A., Siegel, D.M., Piccirillo, M.L., Alloy, L.B., & Olino, T.M.
This study employed latent class analysis utilizing an array of features of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in order to identify distinct subgroups of self-injurers. Participants were 359 undergraduates with NSSI history. Indicator variables were lifetime and last year frequency rates, number of methods, scarring, pain during self-injury, and functions of NSSI. Analyses yielded mild/experimental NSSI, moderate NSSI, moderate multiple functions NSSI, and severe NSSI groups, endorsing low, moderate, moderate multiple functions, and high frequencies of self-injury and presence of functions, respectively. Following class assignment, groups differed on self-esteem, social support and belongingness, internalizing symptoms, suicidal ideation and behaviors, and additional NSSI constructs. These subtype analyses emphasize matching phenotypes of NSSI to specific interventions considering dimensions of clinical functioning.