TY - JOUR
T1 - Longitudinal associations between pandemic post-traumatic stress symptoms and subsequent non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents
T2 - A multiple mediation model
AU - Zhao, Xingkui
AU - Lukito, Steve
AU - Huang, Xia
AU - Qiu, Chanjian
AU - Tang, Wanjie
N1 - Funding Information:
This research is supported by the Ministry of Education of China ; Project Number: 20YJAZH136 . This study was also supported by The China Scholarship Council ( 202006240034 ). The funding institutions had no role in the study design, data collection, and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier B.V.
PY - 2023/2/15
Y1 - 2023/2/15
N2 - Backgrounds: PTSD is one of the most common conditions after people have experienced trauma. While previous studies have found a link between PTSD and non-suicidal self-injury, (NSSI), few studies have longitudinally explored this relationship and the underlying mechanisms. Aims: This study explored adolescent NSSI frequency after COVID-19 lockdown experiences, the relationship with early PTSD symptoms, and the mediating role of depression and sleep problems. Methods: A cohort of 1609 adolescents completed two surveys during and after the national lockdown in China; one month into the lockdown and six months later; which assessed demographic and pandemic-related exposure variables; PTSD, depression, sleep, and NSSI. Mediation analyses and hierarchical regression were employed to examine the relationships and the paths between these variables. Results: The NSSI rate was found to be 31.9 % after the three-month lockdown, with 20.6 % of adolescent participants reporting sleeping disorders, and 33.9 % indicating probable depression. Adolescents who had earlier PTSD symptoms, often smoked and/or drank, and had current depression and sleep disorders reported greater NSSI. Early PTSD symptoms were found to predict later NSSI and were mediated by sleep problems and depressive symptoms. Specifically, PTSD avoidance and numbing symptoms were significantly associated with NSSI above and beyond the depressive symptoms, sleeping problems, and the other covariables. Conclusion: It is necessary to be vigilant about the increased risk of NSSI in adolescents who have experienced extended pandemic lockdowns. Preventing early adolescent PTSD symptoms, especially avoidance and numbness, and helping teenagers quit smoking and drinking could reduce the risk of sleep disorders, depression, and NSSI.
AB - Backgrounds: PTSD is one of the most common conditions after people have experienced trauma. While previous studies have found a link between PTSD and non-suicidal self-injury, (NSSI), few studies have longitudinally explored this relationship and the underlying mechanisms. Aims: This study explored adolescent NSSI frequency after COVID-19 lockdown experiences, the relationship with early PTSD symptoms, and the mediating role of depression and sleep problems. Methods: A cohort of 1609 adolescents completed two surveys during and after the national lockdown in China; one month into the lockdown and six months later; which assessed demographic and pandemic-related exposure variables; PTSD, depression, sleep, and NSSI. Mediation analyses and hierarchical regression were employed to examine the relationships and the paths between these variables. Results: The NSSI rate was found to be 31.9 % after the three-month lockdown, with 20.6 % of adolescent participants reporting sleeping disorders, and 33.9 % indicating probable depression. Adolescents who had earlier PTSD symptoms, often smoked and/or drank, and had current depression and sleep disorders reported greater NSSI. Early PTSD symptoms were found to predict later NSSI and were mediated by sleep problems and depressive symptoms. Specifically, PTSD avoidance and numbing symptoms were significantly associated with NSSI above and beyond the depressive symptoms, sleeping problems, and the other covariables. Conclusion: It is necessary to be vigilant about the increased risk of NSSI in adolescents who have experienced extended pandemic lockdowns. Preventing early adolescent PTSD symptoms, especially avoidance and numbness, and helping teenagers quit smoking and drinking could reduce the risk of sleep disorders, depression, and NSSI.
KW - COVID-19
KW - Depression
KW - NSSI
KW - PTSD
KW - Sleep problems
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85144257898&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.040
DO - 10.1016/j.jad.2022.12.040
M3 - Article
C2 - 36529405
AN - SCOPUS:85144257898
SN - 0165-0327
VL - 323
SP - 707
EP - 715
JO - Journal of Affective Disorders
JF - Journal of Affective Disorders
ER -