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Résumé (français)

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Résumé (anglais)

Objective Some research suggests that suicidal ideation and attempt among adolescents may be contagious – that is adolescents who are exposed to peers’ suicidal behaviour are more likely to experience suicidal ideation or attempt suicide themselves. Less is known about the potential contagion effect of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Our objective was to determine whether knowledge of a friend’s NSSI is associated with adolescent’s own non-suicidal self-injury and suicidal behaviours. Methods Data from 1483 youth ages 14–17 years were obtained from the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study, a cross-sectional population-based survey of children and adolescents in Ontario, Canada. Logistic regression models were used to examine associations between knowledge of a friend’s NSSI and adolescents’ own self-reported self-injurious and suicidal behaviours. Interactions with gender, age group and presence of a mental disorder were investigated. Results Knowledge of a friend’s non-suicidal self-injury was significantly associated with the adolescent’s own non-suicidal self-injury (OR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.05–3.90), suicidal ideation (OR = 3.08, 95% CI 1.50–6.30) and suicide attempt (OR = 2.87, 95% CI 1.20–6.87). Conclusion These findings suggest an apparent contagion effect for non-suicidal self-injury. Awareness of a friend’s self-injurious behaviours is associated with an adolescent’s own self-injury and suicidality. Interventions aimed at preventing NSSI and suicidality should consider prevention of possible contagion at the school and/or community level. Significant outcomes * We found evidence consistent with a contagion effect for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury * Knowledge of a friend’s NSSI was additionally associated with adolescent suicidal ideation and attempt * These associations were not explained by adolescent mental disorder Limitations * The study relied on self-reported data * The cross-sectional design suggests that care should be taken when interpreting results through a causal lens * Information on some potential confounders, such as shared stressors between adolescents, was not available