NSSI in adolescence and emerging adulthood

This chapter considers why adolescence and emerging adulthood are the most sensitive life periods for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and summarizes the knowledge about the course and developmental risk and protective factors of NSSI. This includes a literature review on the associations between NSSI and early life trauma, personality and identity development, emotion regulation, cognitive vulnerabilities, mental disorders, parenting and family relationships, and peer relationships. The authors then evaluate the possible consequences of engaging in NSSI as an adolescent or emerging adult and discuss how we can intervene to address NSSI among young people. Finally, the authors formulate recommendations to further our understanding as we move into the next decade of research. One of the main suggestions is to consider developmental variation in future prospective studies as well as an increased focus on prevention and intervention.