This site is intended for UK healthcare professionals
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
Medscape UK Univadis Logo
News

Earlier onset of puberty may up self-harm risk

Boys and girls who hit puberty earlier than their peers may be at risk of self-harm during adolescence, suggests a new study funded by the National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre.

Researchers at the University of Bristol examined data from 5339 participants in the Children of the 90s (ALSPAC) study to determine the mean age at peak height velocity (aPHV), which was 13.5 years in boys and 11.8 years in girls. They also analysed self-reported questionnaires completed by individuals at ages 16 and 21 years to determine self-harm behaviour.

The findings published in the journal Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences showed that one in 10 boys and a quarter of girls engaged in self-harm at age 16 years. By 21 years of age, the proportions of males and females having ever self-harmed were 28 per cent and 35 per cent, respectively.

A higher proportion of individuals with early aPHV reported self-harm compared with those with late aPHV. Experiencing aPHV one year earlier was associated with a 15 per cent and 28 per cent higher likelihood of self-harm at 16 years of age in girls and boys, respectively.

Elystan Roberts from the University of Bristol said: "There's evidence that self-harm is becoming more common in young people, so it’s important to identify the factors associated with self-harm so we can provide help earlier to those people who may be most at risk."


References


YOU MAY ALSO LIKE