- Prospective evidence shows adolescent sleep problems increase subsequent NSSI risk, pooled OR 1.60 (95% CI 1.32 to 1.95).
- Associations remained broadly consistent across regions, samples, measures, and follow-up durations; type of sleep problem moderated the strength of association.
- Findings highlight sleep problems as a target for early prevention of adolescent NSSI; publication bias evidence was mixed across tests.
Child Psychiatry Hum Dev. 2026 Aug 7. doi: 10.1007/s10578-026-02076-6. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
Sleep problems and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) represent critical public health concerns during adolescence. While cross-sectional research suggests an association, prospective longitudinal evidence remains limited. This systematic review and meta-analysis evaluated the prospective relationship between sleep problems and subsequent NSSI risk among adolescents. PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and CINAHL were searched from inception to January 2026. Twenty longitudinal studies comprising 62,467 adolescents were included. Pooled analysis revealed that sleep problems significantly increased NSSI risk (OR = 1.60; 95% CI: 1.32-1.95). Subgroup analyses showed generally consistent associations across regions, study populations, sample sizes, measurement tools, and follow-up durations. The type of sleep problem appeared to moderate the association. Evidence of publication bias was mixed, with Begg’s test suggesting possible bias whereas Egger’s test was not statistically significant. These findings underscore sleep problem as a prospective risk factor for adolescent NSSI, with important implications for early prevention strategies.
PMID:42565917 | DOI:10.1007/s10578-026-02076-6
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