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Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology
2026. Vol. 15, no. 1, 85–95
doi:10.17759/jmfp.2026150107
ISSN: 2304-4977 (online)

Self-injurious behavior as a risk factor of suicidal behavior: a narrative review of foreign longitudinal studies

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Self-injurious behavior is widespread among adolescents and young adults and represents a significant risk factor for suicide attempts. Meanwhile, the mechanisms underlying the transition from self-injuries to suicidal behavior remain insufficiently studied, which makes longitudinal studies particularly important. Objective. To summarize findings from foreign longitudinal studies, assess the contribution of self-injuries to the development of suicidal behavior, and identify factors facilitating the transition to suicide attempts. Methods. This narrative review is based on systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and individual longitudinal studies involving adolescent, student, and adult samples. Data on the prevalence of self-injuries, suicidal ideation, attempts, and completed suicides were analyzed, along with psychopathological, psychological, and sociodemographic factors. Results. The reviewed studies confirm a robust association between self-injuries and suicide attempts. Early onset of self-injurious behavior, use of multiple methods, and high frequency of repeated episodes increase the risk of suicidal behavior. Key risk factors include emotional dysregulation, mental disorders, traumatic experiences, interpersonal vulnerability, male gender, older age, and somatic illnesses. Conclusions. Reducing suicide risk requires early identification of self-injurious behavior, monitoring of psychoemotional status, development of emotion regulation strategies, and strengthening of interpersonal relationships. Future research should explore factors promoting mental and physical health and identify early precursors to self-injurious tendencies.

General Information

Keywords: longitudinal studies, self-injurious behavior, nonsuicidal self-injury, deliberate self-harm, self-injurious thoughts and behaviors, suicidal behavior

Journal rubric: Medical Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150107

Received 30.04.2025

Revised 17.10.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Polskaya, N.A., Kuznetsova-Fetisova, A.A., Razvaliaeva, A.Y., Basova, A.Ya. (2026). Self-injurious behavior as a risk factor of suicidal behavior: a narrative review of foreign longitudinal studies. Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 15(1), 85–95. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2026150107

© Polskaya N.A., Kuznetsova-Fetisova A.A., Razvaliaeva A.Y., Basova A.Ya., 2026

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Natalia A. Polskaya, Doctor of Psychology, Associate Professor, Leading Researcher, Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents named after G.E. Sukhareva, Professor, Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Moscow, Russian Federation, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7305-5577, e-mail: polskayana@yandex.ru

Anastasiia A. Kuznetsova-Fetisova, teacher, Moscow State University of Psychology and Education, Junior Researcher, Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents named after G.E. Sukhareva, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-0252-2269, e-mail: nastasyabelous@mail.ru

Anna Y. Razvaliaeva, Candidate of Science (Psychology), Researcher, Laboratory of Cognitive Processes and Mathematical Psychology, Institute of Psychology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2046-3411, e-mail: annraz@rambler.ru

Anna Y. Basova, Candidate of Science (Medicine), Deputy Director for Research, Scientific and Practical Center for Mental Health of Children and Adolescents named after G.E. Sukhareva, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Medical Psychology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Moscow, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5001-8554, e-mail: dr.anna.basova@gmail.com

Contribution of the authors

Polskaya N.A. — the idea of research; research planning; annotation, writing and design of the manuscript; supervision of the research process.
Kuznetsova-Fetisova A.A. — research planning; search for scientific literature; writing and design of the manuscript.
Razvalyaeva A.Yu. — research planning; search for scientific literature; writing and design of the manuscript.
Basova A.Ya. — research planning, discussion of the research results, supervision of the research process.
All the authors participated in the discussion of the results and agreed on the final text of the manuscrip

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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