The Associations Between Children's and Adolescents’ Suicidal and Self-Harming Behaviors, and Related Behaviors Within Their Social Networks: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Social influences—including the suicidal and self-harming behaviors of others—have been highlighted as a risk factor for suicidal and self-harming behavior in young people, but synthesis of the evidence is lacking. A systematic review of 86 relevant papers was conducted. Considerable published evidence was obtained for positive associations between young people's suicidal and self-harming behavior and that of people they know, with those reporting knowing people who had engaged in suicidal or self-harming behaviors more likely to report engaging in similar behaviors themselves. Findings are discussed in relation to a number of methodological and measurement issues—including the role of normative perceptions—and implications for the prevention of suicidal and self-harming behavior are considered.

Keywords:

• normative perception
• self-harm
• social influence
• social norms
• suicide

Notes

¹Papers which failed to define the nature of the young person's relationship with the reference group were excluded (e.g., “people you know”), as were those in which reference groups were not necessarily present in the young person's social network (e.g., celebrities or fictional characters), in order to minimize the likelihood that the data reflected guesswork or more general perception of overall rates.

²In accordance with World Health Organization (2013) and UNICEF (2011) definitions of adolescence.

³For the purposes of this review, it was deemed appropriate to group these referents together into one general section.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jody Quigley

Jody Quigley, Division of Psychology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling, UK.

Susan Rasmussen

Susan Rasmussen, School of Psychological Sciences and Health, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, UK.

John McAlaney

John McAlaney, School of Design, Bournemouth University, Bournemouth, UK.