Childhood abuse experiences, recent life events and non-suicidal self-injury among college students

Objective To determine the relationship between childhood abuse,recent life events,and non-suicidal self-injury(NSSI) among college students.Methods A total of 1 875 students involved freshman and sophomore were recruited from a college.We assessed childhood abuse exposure,life events (Multidimensional Life Events Rating Questionnaire for Middle School Students,MLERQ),and the prevalence of NSSI.Logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between childhood abuse,life events,and non-suicidal self-injury.Results The prevalence of NSSI was 14.7%,and no gender difference was found (P> 0.05).The rates of NSSI was higher with childhood abuse exposure (17.3% vs 11.6%) or more life event (24.6% vs 13.8% vs 6.8%).Among adolescents reporting childhood abuse,those in the highest tertile of life events increased the risk of NSSI than those in the lowest tertile [adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) =3.32(1.99,5.53)];for those reporting no CA,the ratio was 5.66(2.75,11.68).Among students with lowest tertile of life events,those with childhood abuse increased the risk of NSSI [adjusted prevalence ratio (95% confidence interval) =2.52(1.19,5.32)];for those reporting moderate and highest tertile of life events,the effect of childhood abuse on NSSI were not found.Conclusion Childhood abuse and recent life events are determinants of NSSI among college students.Prevention of childhood abuse,especially recent life events could be used to control the NSSI of adolescents.