Interaction among negative mood, sleep, and diet habits in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: A cross-sectional network analysis

Yunxiao Liu; Yating Yang; Ruitong Li; Qingqing Shen; Xiaoping Yuan; Jingwen Shang; Huanzhong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.007

Interaction among negative mood, sleep, and diet habits in adolescents with non-suicidal self-injury: A cross-sectional network analysis

J Affect Disord. 2024 Nov 3:S0165-0327(24)01837-8. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.007. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yunxiao Liu¹, Yating Yang², Ruitong Li¹, Qingqing Shen¹, Xiaoping Yuan³, Jingwen Shang¹, Huanzhong Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China; Department of Psychiatry, School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 230000, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China.
² Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China; The Second People's Hospital of Huizhou, Huizhou 512200, Guangdong, China.
³ Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Chaohu Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China; Anhui Psychiatric Center, Anhui Medical University, Hefei 238000, Anhui Province, China. Electronic address: huanzhongliu@ahmu.edu.cn.

PMID: 39500467
DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2024.11.007

Abstract

Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a serious public health problem that can lead to adverse effects such as cognitive impairment, poor interpersonal relationships and violent crime. The progress of preventing and treating NSSI in adolescents depends on other changeable risk factors, such as negative mood, sleep, and diet habits. However, the risk factors for adolescent NSSI remain unclear. Therefore, this study explores the key factors influencing adolescents' non-suicidal self-injurious behavior through the use of network analysis.

Methods: The study recruited 4040 middle school students aged 12-18 years old. From November 1st, 2023 to January 1st, 2024, paper questionnaires were utilized to investigate the participants' basic conditions, negative mood, NSSI, sleep conditions, and diet habits. Network analysis was used to explore the interrelationship among risk factors and discover the core factors.

Results: In the network structure of adolescents with NSSI behavior, the most correlated nodes were negative emotions (CDI2) and low self-esteem (CDI3). Compared with adolescents without NSSI behavior, adolescents with NSSI behavior showed prominent anxiety symptoms related to injury avoidance (MASC1) and social anxiety (MASC2). Anhedonia (CDI1) was both the central node and the bridge node of the network.

Limitation: The cross-sectional design of this study couldn't clarify the causal inference between independent variables and results.

Conclusion: Anhedonia is the key factor affecting adolescents' emotion regulation. Furthermore, we hypothesize that adolescent non-suicidal self-injury is an emotional disorder, and anhedonia plays an important role in preventing and intervening in adolescent non-suicidal self-injury behavior.

Keywords: Adolescents; Negative mood; Network analysis; Non-suicidal self-injury; Sleep.