Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior in Higher Education: Examining its Prevalence and Correlates

The prevalence of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSIB) among college students has notably escalated despite advancements in mental health treatment. NSSIB is defined as intentional destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent. There is a growing need to understand NSSIB in the context of college students who experience unique stressors that influence their mental health. This study (1) determined the prevalence of non-suicidal self-injurious behavior among an undergraduate college student sample, (2) examined the relationship between NSSIB and sociodemographic variables (age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status), (3) examined the relationship between NSSIB and the variables of psychiatric comorbidity, history of trauma, and social connectedness, and (4) determined the relationship between post-traumatic growth and NSSIB. Participants completed a set of self-report measures that assessed both sociodemographic and psychosocial variables, as well as a self-report measure to determine engagement in self-harming behaviors. Results indicated that approximately 35.7% of participants endorsed lifetime engagement in NSSIB. Among these individuals, 37% reported engagement in NSSIB within the last 12 months. Results also indicated that socioeconomic status was a significant predictor of lifetime engagement, while age, gender, and ethnicity were not significant. Additionally, participants who endorsed lifetime engagement in NSSIB reported significantly higher scores on measures for depression, anxiety, exposure to trauma, and lower social connectedness scores. Depression was also identified as the only significant predictor of engagement in NSSIB and individuals who endorsed engagement in NSSIB reported higher levels of post-traumatic growth compared to those who did not.