Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and influencing factors of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among middle school students in a city within Hebei Province. METHODS: A total of 11,321 students from grades one to three from two middle schools in Dingzhou, Hebei Province, were randomly selected. Socio-demographic data, mental disorders, coping styles, and experiences of childhood abuse were collected. RESULTS: 10,982 students finally included in the statistical analysis. We found that the detection rate of NSSI in the past year was 11.6%. Comparatively, the NSSI group and the non-NSSI group revealed significant discrepancies in coping styles, childhood abuse, and mental disorders. Factors protective against NSSI included living with parents, a problem-oriented coping style, and a preference for participating in extracurricular activities (OR = 0.729, 0.966, 0.815). NSSI's risk factors included frequent parental quarrels, interpersonal tension and sensitivity, depression, emotion-oriented coping styles, and childhood emotional abuse (OR = 1.322, 1.045, 1.141, 1.023, 1.137). CONCLUSION: The detection rate of NSSI within the past year in the city of Hebei stands at 11.6%. Considering the recognized risk and protective factors for NSSI, the possibility of NSSI may be decreased through the promotion of a harmonious home environment, encouraging positive emotional interaction, and the facilitation of greater involvement in extracurricular activities.