Pubertal Development, Somatic Symptoms, Life Stress, and Self-Injurious Behaviors in Adolescent Girls

• In Event: Stress and Stress Responses: Social, Cultural, and Biological Links to Adolescent Suicidality

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine 1) whether somatic symptoms, life stress, and pubertal advancement predict the presence of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in adolescents 2) if pubertal development or life stress moderates the relationship between somatic complaints and SITBs and 3) if daily stress is associated with increased levels of somatic complaints. We hypothesized that 1) increased levels of somatic symptoms, increased levels of life stress, and pubertal advancement will predict the presence of SITBs 2) somatic symptoms will be more strongly associated with self-injurious behaviors than suicidal thoughts and 3) pubertal advancement and life stress will moderate the association between somatic symptoms and self-injurious behaviors (i.e. nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide attempts), such that somatic symptoms will predict self-injurious behaviors more strongly at later stages of puberty than earlier stages of puberty. A sample of adolescent girls aged 9-15 years (N=226) completed assessments of somatic symptoms, pubertal advancement, life stress, and self-injurious behaviors every 3 months for one year. Cross-sectionally and longitudinally, we found that increased somatic symptoms, pubertal advancement, and increased levels of life stress predicted the presence of self-injurious behaviors and suicidal thoughts. We found that pubertal advancement moderated the relationship between somatic symptoms and self-injurious behaviors, such that increased levels of somatic symptoms positively predicted self-injurious behaviors at earlier pubertal stages, and this relationship decreased in strength with increasing pubertal advancement. This interaction was significant cross-sectionally and marginally significant longitudinally. Additionally, life stress significantly predicted increased levels of somatic complaints, longitudinally and cross-sectionally. Life stress did not significantly moderate the relationship between somatic symptoms and self-injurious behaviors. Understanding the relationships between puberty, somatic symptoms, life stress, and SITBs may improve our understanding of why people begin to harm themselves and aid in the development of prevention strategies and interventions for self-injurious behaviors.

Authors

• Azure Reid-Russell, Harvard University
  Presenting Author

• Adam Bryant Miller, RTI International
  Non-Presenting Author

• Matteo Giletta, Ghent University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Paul David Hastings, University of California - Davis
  Non-Presenting Author

• Karen Rudolph, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
  Non-Presenting Author

• George M Slavich, University of California, Los Angeles
  Non-Presenting Author

• Leah H. Somerville, Harvard University
  Non-Presenting Author

• Mitchell J Prinstein, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  Non-Presenting Author

• Matthew K. Nock, Harvard University
  Non-Presenting Author