Deliberate Self‐Harm in Adolescents Aged 12–18: A Cross‐Sectional Survey of 18,104 Students |
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| Authors: | Norio Watanabe MD PhD Atsushi Nishida PhD Shinji Shimodera MD PhD Ken Inoue MD PhD Norihito Oshima MD Tsukasa Sasaki MD PhD Shimpei Inoue MD Tatsuo Akechi MD PhD Toshi A. Furukawa MD PhD Yuji Okazaki MD PhD |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Norio Watanabe and Tatsuo Akechi, Department of Psychiatry and Cognitive‐Behavioral Medicine, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Aichi, Japan;2. Atsushi Nishida, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Science, Tokyo Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan;3. Shinji Shimodera, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan;4. Ken Inoue, Department Public Health, Fujita Health University School of Medicine, Aichi, Japan;5. Norihito Oshima, Office for Mental Health Support, Division for Counseling and Support, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan;6. Tsukasa Sasaki, Laboratory of Health Education, Graduate School of Education, The University of Tokyo, Japan;7. Shimpei Inoue, Department of Neuropsychiatry, Kochi Medical School, Kochi University, Kochi, Japan;8. Toshi A. Furukawa, Department of Health Promotion and Human Behavior, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine/School of Public Health, Kyoto, Japan;9. and Yuji Okazaki, Department of Psychiatry, Tokyo Metropolitan Matsuzawa Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. |
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| Abstract: | Little is known about accurate prevalence and associated factors of deliberate self‐harm (DSH) among adolescents in Asian countries. In this study, the prevalence and associated factors of DSH among adolescents in Japan were examined. Data were derived from a cross‐sectional survey using an anonymous self‐report questionnaire and enrolling 8,620 adolescents aged 12–15 and 9,484 aged 15–18. DSH in the previous 12 months was reported by 3.3% (95% CI, 2.9–3.7) of junior and 4.3% (3.9%–4.7%) of senior high school respondents. The prevalence was more than four times as high among girls as among boys for both age groups. DSH was further strongly associated with having suicidal thoughts, having depression/anxiety symptoms, and having used recreational drugs. These associated factors were similar for both sexes and for both older and younger teenagers. A substantial minority of adolescents present with DSH, even among those aged 12–15. The prevalence of DSH in Japan was in the lower ranges of those reported for Western countries. The identified associated factors were not dissimilar from those reported in the West. |
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