Citation

Patton GC, Hemphill SA, Beyers JM, Bond L, Toumbourou JW, McMorris BJ, Catalano RF. J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc. Psychiatry 2007; 46(4): 508-514.

Affiliation

Centre for Adolescent Health, Murdoch Children's Research Institute and Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne; Seattle Social Developmen

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, American Academy of Child Adolescent Psychiatry, Publisher Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/chi.0b013e31803065c7

PMID

17420686

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:: To ascertain the association between pubertal stage and deliberate self-harm. METHOD:: Cross-sectional survey of 12- to 15-year-olds in 300 secondary schools in the U.S. state of Washington in February-April 2002 and the Australian state of Victoria in June-August 2002. A total of 3,332 students in grades 7 and 9 provided complete data on episodes of deliberate self-harm in the previous 12 months and pubertal stage. Pubertal stage was assessed with the Pubertal Development Scale. RESULTS:: The prevalence of deliberate self-harm was 3.7% with a more than twofold higher rate in females. Late puberty was associated with a more than fourfold higher rate of self-harm (odds ratio 4.6, 95% confidence interval 1.5-14) after adjustment for age and school grade level. In contrast age had a protective association (odds ratio 0.7, confidence interval 0.4-1.0). The sharpest rises in prevalence across puberty were for self-laceration and self-poisoning in females. Higher rates of depressive symptoms, frequent alcohol use, and initiation of sexual activity largely accounted for the association between self-harm and pubertal stage in multivariate models. CONCLUSIONS:: Puberty is associated with changes in the form and frequency of self-harm. For adolescents with a gap between puberty and brain development, risk factors such as early sexual activity and substance abuse may be particularly potent.

Language: en