Youth Wellbeing Study – Update Marc Wilson, Jessica Garisch, Robyn Langlands, Angelique O’Connell, Lynne Russell, Emma-Jayne Brown, Tahlia Kingi, Kealagh Robinson, and Maddie Judge Wellington, May 2014

Youth Wellbeing Study Longitudinal survey with secondary school students. Non-Suicidal Self-injury Primarily investigating – Risk and protective factors for the development of non-suicidal self- injury – Barriers to help-seeking

Trajectory of NSSI among young New Zealanders We have data spanning age-groups – 13 – 15 years olds...and you’ve heard us talk about before: – 16 – 19 year olds – University students (M=19 yo)

Prevalence YWS Wave 1 results – N=1027 (991 responded to questions on NSSI) 213 (21%) engaged in NSSI at least once – 81.6% had engaged in NSSI in the past year Senior secondary school students – N= % had engaged in NSSI at least once – 53.6% had engaged in NSSI in past year » 46.4% over a year ago University students – N= % had engaged in NSSI at least once

Participants indicated how they felt at the start, and again at the end, of the survey. If anything, participants report feeling on average happier at the end.

YWS wave 1: Further information on prevalence... Type of NSSINever thought about Thought about, never done Have done once Have done a few times Have done many times Cut Scratched Carved Punched/ banged Stuck sharp objects Prevent healing Bitten self Burn Rubbed glass Broken bones Rubbed sandpaper Dripped acid Used bleach/ cleaning agent

Prevalence of Types of NSSI YWS Wave 1 sample – Cutting most common – Severe scratching, carving the skin, punching or banging Senior Secondary School students – Sticking sharp objects into the skin, carved, scratch most common – Cutting Other types assessed (e.g. using acid, sandpaper, etc.) much less frequently reported. Types of NSSI generally cluster into 2 factors: ‘common’ + ‘uncommon’

Engagement in multiple types of NSSI University student data suggests that the majority of young people engage in 1 – 3 types of NSSI...

Engagement in multiple types of NSSI YWS Wave 1 Of the 213 who reported NSSI – 25.6% reported 1 form – 17.4% reported 2 forms – 15.5% reported 3 forms – 37.1% reported > 3 forms

Self-reported Function of NSSI

YWS Wave 1: Four Clusters (Functions assessed using FASM (Klonsky & Olino, 2008) Interpersonal: Other-focused Interpersonal: self-focused Intrapersonal: Disconnection Intrapersonal: Affect & Punish

Functions & Psycho-social functioning Generally, intrapersonal functions (both disconnection and affect regulation/self-punishment) most strongly associated with indicators of poor functioning...

Anxiety Level of Function endorsement Depression Level of Function endorsement

Attachment to Parents Level of Function endorsement Attachment to Peers Level of Function endorsement

Emotion Regulation Level of Function endorsement Resilience Level of Function endorsement

Suicidal Ideation Level of Function endorsement Self-Esteem Level of Function endorsement

YWS: Participant Clusters by Function Cluster 1: Affect regulation & self-punishment (n=75) Cluster 2: Low on all (n=81) Cluster 3: Highest on intrapersonal (n=13) Cluster 4: High on all, highest on both interpersonal (n=22) C1 C4 C2 C3

YWS: Clusters + Psycho-social functioning Four clusters differed significantly on: – Suicidality (notably C1 and C3) – Self-esteem – Resilience – Depression – Anxiety – Emotion regulation – Attachment to parents (but not peers...) – NSSI behaviour Cluster 2 (low on all) generally the best

The NUMBER of types of self-injury engaged in is strongly predictive of suicidal ideation: For each additional form, SBQ scores increase: 1 form  SBQ = 3.5ish 2 forms  SBQ = 5ish 3 forms  SBQ = 7ish 7 is the recommended cutoff for concern…

YWS: Participant Clusters by NSSI forms C1 C4 C2 C3

YWS: Participant Clusters by NSSI forms C1 – 2 nd most likely to cut, 3 rd most likely for most forms C4 – most likely to self-bite, 2 nd most likely for most. Most likely to have thought about ‘atypical’ self-injury like bone breaking, using glass, bleach, etc C2 C3 – Most likely to cut, carve, insert

Implications for practice Results congruent with the idea that NSSI begins in early adolescents, and continues into early adulthood for some individuals Forms of NSSI: multiple behaviours need to be queried. Functions – Heterogeneity – Affect regulation most prevalent

Implications for practice continued... Functions can point to skills required... – Affect regulation Distress tolerance skills Labelling and communicating emotions Understanding beliefs regarding experiencing (and showing) emotion

Acknowledgements Participating schools, counsellors + students HRC Thanks for listening Any questions? Comments?