Lifetime Prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: Reliability of a Dichotomous Survey Item

IF 3.4 3区医学 Q2 PSYCHIATRY

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research Pub Date : 2026-10-21 DOI:10.1002/mpr.70115

Erik Aspeqvist, Hedvig Andersson, Örjan Dahlström, Laura Korhonen, Maria Zetterqvist

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a widespread phenomenon among adolescents. Accurate estimates of prevalence rates when screening for NSSI are essential both in research and clinical settings. However, high variability raises the question of the reliability of self-reported NSSI prevalence.

Methods

The reliability of a dichotomous survey item on history of NSSI was investigated longitudinally using data from five time points across 16 months in a community sample (N = 253) of Swedish adolescents (age M = 14.21 years, SD = 0.56, 58.5% female).

Results

About one in five participants (18.97%) changed their answer compared to their initial response. Of those who answered negatively on lifetime prevalence of NSSI at baseline, 8.95% later acknowledged NSSI, while 57.69% of those initially acknowledging NSSI later answered negatively. Fleiss' kappa across all five measurements indicated moderate agreement. Cohen's kappa between baseline and 12 months indicated moderate agreement.

Conclusions

In this adolescent sample, the reliability of a single-item question on NSSI history was moderate. More than half of those who initially acknowledged a history of NSSI answered negatively at a later time point. Interpretation of self-reported lifetime prevalence rates of NSSI in adolescents using dichotomous survey items needs to be made cautiously.

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来源期刊

International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research 医学-精神病学

CiteScore

5.20

自引率

6.50%

发文量

审稿时长

>12 weeks

期刊介绍： The International Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research (MPR) publishes high-standard original research of a technical, methodological, experimental and clinical nature, contributing to the theory, methodology, practice and evaluation of mental and behavioural disorders. The journal targets in particular detailed methodological and design papers from major national and international multicentre studies. There is a close working relationship with the US National Institute of Mental Health, the World Health Organisation (WHO) Diagnostic Instruments Committees, as well as several other European and international organisations. MPR aims to publish rapidly articles of highest methodological quality in such areas as epidemiology, biostatistics, generics, psychopharmacology, psychology and the neurosciences. Articles informing about innovative and critical methodological, statistical and clinical issues, including nosology, can be submitted as regular papers and brief reports. Reviews are only occasionally accepted. MPR seeks to monitor, discuss, influence and improve the standards of mental health and behavioral neuroscience research by providing a platform for rapid publication of outstanding contributions. As a quarterly journal MPR is a major source of information and ideas and is an important medium for students, clinicians and researchers in psychiatry, clinical psychology, epidemiology and the allied disciplines in the mental health field.