Addiction profile is associated with suicidal behavior and repetition of non-suicidal self injury: a latent profile analysis study in a schooled adolescents

Abstract

Adolescence is a critical period for the development of self-regulatory behaviors, with emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and substance use emerging as significant factors associated with self-injury and suicidal thoughts and behaviors. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and patterns of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal ideation, and suicide attempts in a community-based sample of adolescents. A sample of 1526 adolescents aged 12–16 was analyzed using Latent Profile Analysis (LPA), identifying two distinct behavioral profiles: the Substance Use with Non-Problematic Gaming (37.4%) profile, characterized by alcohol, cannabis, and nicotine use, and the Moderate Problematic Gaming with Minimal Substance Use (62.6%) profile, associated with problematic video game use and minimal substance use. Overall, 36% of participants reported engaging in NSSI, 27.2% reported suicidal ideation, and 3.21% reported suicide attempts within the past year. Ordinal regression analysis indicated that adolescents in the SUP group exhibited higher levels of emotional dysregulation, impulsivity, and behavioral difficulties, significantly increasing their odds of suicide attempts (OR 2.24, p < 0.02). Additionally, emotional dysregulation independently doubled the risk of suicide attempts (OR 2.01, p < 0.001). This study provides a detailed risk profile for adolescent self-injury and suicide-related behaviors in school settings. Despite the limitations of a non-clinical sample, the findings underscore the importance of early prevention efforts targeting emotional dysregulation and impulsivity. Future research should consider longitudinal approaches to better understand the developmental trajectories of NSSI and suicidal behaviors in adolescents, particularly in high-risk, marginalized populations.