Document Type
Article
Date of Original Version
2020
Abstract
This study explored emerging typologies of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors and how they relate to known psychological and cognitive correlates. Latent class analysis was employed to identify subgroups of college students (n = 626, mean age = 20, 73% female, and 83% White) based on history of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors. Differences among classes were tested to examine their associations with suicidal ideation, fearlessness of death, depression/hopelessness, thwarted belongingness, problems with alcohol or drugs, behavioral inhibition, and emotional control. Results of the latent class analysis supported a 3-class solution, with students classified as being likely to have (1) no history of any self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (78%); (2) a history of all self-injurious thoughts and behaviors (8%); or (3) a history of suicidal ideation, plan, and non-suicidal self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, but not suicide attempt (13%). Findings examining correlates of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors highlight the importance of fearlessness of death for distinguishing suicide attempters from non-attempters. Attention to mental health and suicide prevention initiatives should remain a critical priority across college campuses.
Citation/Publisher Attribution
Marisa E. Marraccini, Leslie A. Brick, J. Conor O’Neill, Lisa L. Weyandt & Ashley L. Buchanan (2020) Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Among College Students: A Latent Class Analysis, Archives of Suicide Research, DOI: 10.1080/13811118.2020.1746942
Available at: https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2020.1746942
Comment
Ashley L. Buchanan is in the Department of Pharmacy Practice.
Lisa L. Weyandt is in the Department of Psychology and Interdisciplinary Neuroscience Program.
Author Manuscript
This is a pre-publication author manuscript of the final, published article.
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