Reducing self-harming thoughts and behaviors among American and Australian young adults

^{Barbara McMorris}

Building upon, and extending, cross-national longitudinal research from the International Youth Development Study (IYDS), School of Nursing Associate Professor Barbara McMorris, PhD, recently coauthored a new analysis exploring which risk and protective factors during adolescence predict deliberate self-harm (DSH) thoughts and behaviors in young adulthood. Former postdoctoral fellow Lindsay Taliaferro, PhD, University of Central Florida, is first author with coauthors from the University of Washington and the University of Melbourne, Australia.

“Young people worldwide are in mental health crisis,” says McMorris. “It’s critical that we find out what factors during adolescence impact DSH later when they are young adults.” Beginning in 2002, the IYDS surveyed adolescents in both Washington State and Victoria, Australia during middle school and again at age 25.

McMorris and team focused their analysis on protective factors. “Current DSH research is limited and often focuses only on risk factors during either adolescence or young adulthood, not both. By looking at both protection and risk, and expanding the timeframe, we are helping to fill the gaps in the literature and improve our understanding of this critical issue,” says Taliaferro. The team found that adolescent adaptive coping strategies, positive recognition from one’s community/neighborhood, and prosocial behavior were all protective against DSH in young adulthood. Understanding these protective factors, while also continuing to address key risk factors (depressive symptoms, poor family management/connections), could help inform the creation of programming and interventions used to reduce the prevalence of DHS thoughts and behaviors in young adulthood.

McMorris and Taliaferro are excited to share the results, in press in the Journal of Adolescent Health. “Promoting resilience through coping strategies and positive connections with adults, in addition to managing depressive symptoms and enhancing family connections, will provide the tools adolescents need to reduce or prevent DSH thoughts and behaviors in adulthood,” says McMorris.