The Role of Impulsivity in the Onset and Chronicity of Self-Harm Behaviors among Adolescents:

Self-harm behaviors among adolescents, often linked to impulsivity, have emerged as a growing public health concern.Impulsivity, characterized by acting without forethought, has been identified as a key psychological trait contributing to self-harm behaviors, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to explore the relationship between impulsivity and self-harm behaviors in adolescents, focusing on the role of impulsivity in the onset, frequency, severity, and persistence of self-harm.Using the PRISMA framework, a comprehensive search was conducted across Scopus, Springer Nature Link, and Taylor & Francis databases, identifying 28 empirical studies published between 2020 and 2025.Thematic synthesis was employed to integrate quantitative and qualitative findings, revealing three core themes: (1) impulsivity and its relationship to self-harm behaviors, (2) the impact of impulsivity on the frequency and severity of self-harm, and (3) how impulsivity contributes to the development and chronicity of self-harm behaviors.Findings indicate that impulsivity, particularly emotional and cognitive impulsivity, is strongly associated with increased self-harm tendencies, often exacerbated by emotional dysregulation.Adolescents with high impulsivity are more likely to engage in spontaneous, unplanned self-harm as a maladaptive coping strategy.The review emphasizes the need for early intervention strategies focusing on emotional regulation and impulsivity to mitigate the risk of self-harm.Future research should explore the long-term effects of impulsivity on selfharm across diverse cultural contexts to develop targeted prevention and intervention strategies.