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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines

The association between 24‐hr movement patterns and self‐harm incidence in adolescence

  • Siyi Huang1,2
  • Jiameng Cui3
  • Qida He1
  • Shahmir H. Ali4
  • Qi Wang5
  • G. Neil Thomas6
  • Linyan Li1,5
6 affiliations
  1. 1Department of Infectious Diseases and Public Health City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
  2. 2Department of Sports Science, College of Education Zhejiang University Hangzhou China
  3. 3Department of Big Data in Health Science, School of Public Health Zhejiang University School of Medicine Hangzhou China
  4. 4Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health National University of Singapore Singapore Singapore
  5. 5Department of Data Science City University of Hong Kong Hong Kong China
  6. 6Department of Applied Health Sciences, College of Medicine and Health University of Birmingham Birmingham UK
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Abstract

Background: Self‐harm is a pressing public health issue, particularly among adolescents. Physical activity is associated with reduced self‐harm among youths, but evidence is limited. Most studies rely on self‐reported measures and are primarily focused on moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), often overlooking the role of light‐intensity physical activity (LIPA). To address these gaps, we investigated the prospective associations between accelerometer‐measured 24‐hr movements and subsequent self‐harm in adolescents.

Methods: This prospective cohort investigation analysed 2,016 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study using data from the age 7 years survey (MCS4) when accelerometers were introduced (mean age = 7.23 years, SD = 0.25). Accelerometer‐measured duration of MVPA, LIPA, sedentary behaviour (SB), and sleep were analysed. Self‐harm behaviours were assessed via validated self‐report questionnaires at ages 14 and 17 years, and subsequently, the associations examined using logistic and compositional data models.

Results: Among 2,016 participants (48.6% female), 548 self‐harm cases occurred during 18,696 person‐years of follow‐up, with a median follow‐up duration of 8.5 years (cumulative incidence = 27.2%). LIPA was inversely associated with self‐harm (OR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65–0.88). This association was stronger in compositional models (OR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11–0.47). MVPA showed a significant non‐linear, inverted U‐shaped association with self‐harm (p for non‐linearity = .02). The risk peaked at approximately 1.2 hr/day and decreased substantially at levels exceeding 1.7 hr/day, while SB and sleep were not significantly associated with self‐harm. Stratified analyses confirmed robustness.

Conclusions: Our findings reveal a pronounced inverse association between LIPA and self‐harm, along with a non‐linear association for MVPA. These results support 24‐hr movement guidelines that emphasise activity transitions over isolated targets and highlight LIPA's role in early prevention strategies.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{huang2026association,
  title = {{The association between 24‐hr movement patterns and self‐harm incidence in adolescence}},
  author = {Siyi Huang and Jiameng Cui and Qida He and Shahmir H. Ali and Qi Wang and G. Neil Thomas and Linyan Li},
  journal = {Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines},
  year = {2026},
  month = jul,
  doi = {10.1111/jcpp.70199},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70199},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - The association between 24‐hr movement patterns and self‐harm incidence in adolescence
AU  - Siyi Huang
AU  - Jiameng Cui
AU  - Qida He
AU  - Shahmir H. Ali
AU  - Qi Wang
AU  - G. Neil Thomas
AU  - Linyan Li
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/07/09
JO  - Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, and Allied Disciplines
DO  - 10.1111/jcpp.70199
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1111/jcpp.70199
AB  - Background: Self‐harm is a pressing public health issue, particularly among adolescents. Physical activity is associated with reduced self‐harm among youths, but evidence is limited. Most studies rely on self‐reported measures and are primarily focused on moderate‐to‐vigorous physical activity (MVPA), often overlooking the role of light‐intensity physical activity (LIPA). To address these gaps, we investigated the prospective associations between accelerometer‐measured 24‐hr movements and subsequent self‐harm in adolescents.  Methods: This prospective cohort investigation analysed 2,016 children from the UK Millennium Cohort Study using data from the age 7 years survey (MCS4) when accelerometers were introduced (mean age = 7.23 years, SD = 0.25). Accelerometer‐measured duration of MVPA, LIPA, sedentary behaviour (SB), and sleep were analysed. Self‐harm behaviours were assessed via validated self‐report questionnaires at ages 14 and 17 years, and subsequently, the associations examined using logistic and compositional data models.  Results: Among 2,016 participants (48.6% female), 548 self‐harm cases occurred during 18,696 person‐years of follow‐up, with a median follow‐up duration of 8.5 years (cumulative incidence = 27.2%). LIPA was inversely associated with self‐harm (OR 0.76, 95% CI: 0.65–0.88). This association was stronger in compositional models (OR 0.23, 95% CI: 0.11–0.47). MVPA showed a significant non‐linear, inverted U‐shaped association with self‐harm (p for non‐linearity = .02). The risk peaked at approximately 1.2 hr/day and decreased substantially at levels exceeding 1.7 hr/day, while SB and sleep were not significantly associated with self‐harm. Stratified analyses confirmed robustness.  Conclusions: Our findings reveal a pronounced inverse association between LIPA and self‐harm, along with a non‐linear association for MVPA. These results support 24‐hr movement guidelines that emphasise activity transitions over isolated targets and highlight LIPA's role in early prevention strategies.
SN  - 0021-9630
SN  - 1469-7610
ER  -