The prevalence of self-cutting and other self-harm among 13- to 18-year-old Finnish adolescents

Background Deliberate self-harm has become more prevalent among adolescents. Aims To investigate the prevalence and the associated background factors of self-cutting and other self-harming behaviour. Methods The study sample included 4,205 adolescents aged 13–18 years. Background factors, social relationships, alcohol and substance abuse, selfharm and self-cutting were assessed by a structured questionnaire including the Youth Self Report and Beck Depression Inventory. Results The life-time prevalence of self-cutting was 11.5% and of other self-harm 10.2%, while the prevalence of current self-cutting was 1.8%. Self-cutting was associated with female gender and a very wide range of adverse psychosocial background variables. Parents living together were an independent protective factor. By contrast, there was no gender difference in the risk of other self-harm. Independent risk factors were depressive mood, somatic complaints, drug abuse, poor school performance and poor family relationships. No protective factors were found for other selfharm. Conclusions During adolescence, self-cutting and other self-harm are common. Adolescents who have self-cutting or harm themselves have wide-ranging problems in their lives. The specific characteristics of these phenomena need further investigation.