A study on the explicit self-injurious behaviors of adolescent patients with depression, their implicit self-injurious attitudes, and their relationship with self-esteem levels.
Non-suicidal self-injury behaviors are relatively common among adolescents with depression, seriously endangering their physical and mental health as well as the prognosis of the disease. Currently, the relationship between explicit self-injury behaviors, implicit self-injury attitudes and self-esteem levels of adolescents with depression is not clear. Therefore, this study systematically analyzed the correlation between explicit self-injury behaviors, implicit self-injury attitudes and self-esteem levels of adolescents with depression, aiming to provide theoretical basis for reducing self-injury behaviors and improving their self-esteem levels.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2025 to March 2026 at a mental health specialty hospital in Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China. Using the convenience sampling method, 116 adolescent patients with depression were selected to measure the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior Questionnaire, the Self-Esteem Level Scale, and to explore the patients' implicit attitudes toward self-injury through the Implicit Association Test.
The score of explicit self-injury behavior in adolescent patients with depression was (25.66 ± 12.11); Correlation analysis showed that the explicit self-injury behavior of the patients was significantly negatively correlated with their self-esteem level (P < 0.05). The effect value of the implicit self-injury attitude of the patients was (0.26 ± 1.06), which was different from 0 and the difference was statistically significant; this suggested that the patients had a significant implicit tendency toward self-injury; there was no significant correlation between the implicit self-injury attitude and the explicit self-injury behavior, or the self-esteem level (P > 0.05).
The explicit self-injury behaviors of adolescent patients with depression are at a medium-high level, and the implicit self-injury attitudes are significant and have an independent association effect. When conducting intervention for adolescent patients with depression in clinical settings, it is necessary to abandon the single explicit behavior intervention model and take into account the patient's implicit cognitive characteristics and self-esteem level. A comprehensive intervention system that integrates both internal and external aspects should be constructed to effectively reduce the risk of self-harm behaviors, enhance the patient's self-esteem level and overall mental health level.
A cross-sectional study was conducted from April 2025 to March 2026 at a mental health specialty hospital in Xinxiang City, Henan Province, China. Using the convenience sampling method, 116 adolescent patients with depression were selected to measure the Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Behavior Questionnaire, the Self-Esteem Level Scale, and to explore the patients' implicit attitudes toward self-injury through the Implicit Association Test.
The score of explicit self-injury behavior in adolescent patients with depression was (25.66 ± 12.11); Correlation analysis showed that the explicit self-injury behavior of the patients was significantly negatively correlated with their self-esteem level (P < 0.05). The effect value of the implicit self-injury attitude of the patients was (0.26 ± 1.06), which was different from 0 and the difference was statistically significant; this suggested that the patients had a significant implicit tendency toward self-injury; there was no significant correlation between the implicit self-injury attitude and the explicit self-injury behavior, or the self-esteem level (P > 0.05).
The explicit self-injury behaviors of adolescent patients with depression are at a medium-high level, and the implicit self-injury attitudes are significant and have an independent association effect. When conducting intervention for adolescent patients with depression in clinical settings, it is necessary to abandon the single explicit behavior intervention model and take into account the patient's implicit cognitive characteristics and self-esteem level. A comprehensive intervention system that integrates both internal and external aspects should be constructed to effectively reduce the risk of self-harm behaviors, enhance the patient's self-esteem level and overall mental health level.