Risk and Protective Factors Associated with Self-Cutting Behavior Among Adolescents at First Contact with the Juvenile Court

Bibliographic Data

ID10920095
AuthorsJocelyn I Meza (0000-0002-8132-9099, University of California, Los Angeles, corresponding author), Johanna B Folk (0000-0003-0503-7307, University of California, San Francisco), Johanna Folk, David Hoskins (0000-0002-0982-9777, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital), Kathleen Kemp (0000-0002-2800-0956, Brown University), Marina Tolou-Shams, Marina Tolou‐Shams (0000-0003-2551-609X, University of California, San Francisco)
Year2023
Volume52
Issue12
Pages2494-2508
Publication date2023-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Youth and Adolescence (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0047-2891 • E-ISSN: 1573-6601
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10964-023-01839-x
PMID37592194
OpenAlexW4385914061
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited50

Adolescents involved in juvenile legal system are at increased risk for self-cutting behavior, however, correlates associated with elevated risk remain underresearched, particularly among youth with first involvement with the court. This study utilized an epidemiological two-year longitudinal study involving 401 adolescents at first contact with the court ( M age = 14.47; SD age = 1.94 years; 43% female; 42% Latinx/Hispanic) and an involved caregiver. Study aims examined key prospective psychosocial correlates of self-cutting behavior. Baseline assessments captured individual and family level risk and protective factors; self-cutting behavior was assessed longitudinally every four months post-baseline for 24 months. Psychosocial correlates of self-cutting behavior included adolescent affect dysregulation, post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms, impulsive decision making, anxiety and depression symptoms. Significant protective factors included positive communication with caregiver and family, higher self-esteem, and having a caring and supportive family. These findings suggest that internalizing symptoms as well as difficulties with emotion regulation and impulsive decision making are correlated with heightened risk for self-cutting behavior among adolescents involved in the juvenile legal system. The findings also suggest that individual and family level protective factors, like positive communication and a supportive family, are associated with decreased risk for self-cutting behavior among adolescents at first contact with the court

Developmental psychology · Health psychology · History of psychology · Juvenile · Juvenile delinquency · Legal psychology · Public health · Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies