Self-harming Behaviors and suicide probability in delinquent adolescent girls: The role of emotion dysregulation and modeling the self-harming of peers

Adolescents may be exposed to several mental health related difficulties due to lack of complete cognitive maturity.

This study investigated the mediation of emotion dysregulation and modeling of peers in relation between self-harming behaviors and suicide probability in adolescent.

In a descriptive study, we investigated juvenile delinquents of Correction and Rehabilitation Center of Mashhad during 2021. A total of 148 individuals were selected and evaluated using the self-harm motivation scale, Ottawa self-harming inventory, regulation problems scale and peer self-harm modeling scale. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in SmartPLS-3 software.  

The mean age of participants was 16.21 (standard deviation=2.42). There was significant direct effect of self-harming behaviors on suicide probability (β=0.86 , P= 0.001 ). The significant indirect effect of self-harming behaviors on suicide probability through emotional dysregulation (β= 0.36, P= 0.001 ) was stronger than indirect effect mediated by peers modeling (β=0.17 , P= 0.04 ). The model account for 87 % of total variance of suicide probability.

Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that emotion dysregulation and peers modeling play a role in increasing suicide probability and should be considered in preventing harmful behaviors in adolescents.