Time trends in non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, and mental health problems between 2007 and 2025: a comparison of two Swedish adolescent cohorts
- 1Department of Psychology, Kristianstad University, Kristianstad, 291 88 Sweden
- 2Department of Psychology, Lund University, Lund, 221 00 Sweden
Abstract
Reports suggest rising trends in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and disordered eating (DE) amid worsening adolescent mental health; however, the use of single-item measures obscures these findings. Moreover, there are no studies of time trends in NSSI/DE co-occurring with other mental health problems. The present study used multi-item measures to examine time trends in the prevalence of NSSI, DE, other mental health problems, and their co-occurrence in two separate school cohorts (2007/2008; 2024/2025) in the same Swedish municipality. Clinically relevant cutoffs were applied to self-report measures of NSSI (revised Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory), DE (Risk Behaviour related to Eating Disorders; girls only), and mental health problems (MHP; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – self-report). Analyses included gender-stratified mixed models (time trends per outcome) and binominal generalized log-linear models (time trends in NSSI/DE×MHP concurrence). Response rates were ≈ 90% in 2007/2008 (N = 987–992; Mage = 13.71–14.76) and ≈ 80% in 2024/2025 (N = 810–836; Mage = 13.71–14.79). Among girls, there were threefold increases in the prevalence of repetitive NSSI and high-risk DE combined with other mental health problems (NSSI + MHP from 6.6 to 21.0%; DE + MHP from 2.7 to 8.7%). The prevalence of repetitive NSSI or high-risk DE without co-occurring mental health problems did not change. Among boys, there was no increase in repetitive NSSI with/without other mental health problems. The rising trends in the prevalence of NSSI and DE among girls indicate worsening mental health, suggesting a need for increased attention and action from the healthcare system.
Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4.
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BibTeX
@article{clareus2026time,
title = {{Time trends in non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, and mental health problems between 2007 and 2025: a comparison of two Swedish adolescent cohorts}},
author = {Benjamin Claréus and Lars-Gunnar Lundh and Margit Wångby-Lundh and Jonas Bjärehed and Daiva Daukantaitė},
journal = {European Child \& Adolescent Psychiatry},
year = {2026},
month = jun,
doi = {10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Time trends in non-suicidal self-injury, disordered eating, and mental health problems between 2007 and 2025: a comparison of two Swedish adolescent cohorts
AU - Benjamin Claréus
AU - Lars-Gunnar Lundh
AU - Margit Wångby-Lundh
AU - Jonas Bjärehed
AU - Daiva Daukantaitė
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/06/22
JO - European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
DO - 10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4
UR - https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4
AB - Reports suggest rising trends in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and disordered eating (DE) amid worsening adolescent mental health; however, the use of single-item measures obscures these findings. Moreover, there are no studies of time trends in NSSI/DE co-occurring with other mental health problems. The present study used multi-item measures to examine time trends in the prevalence of NSSI, DE, other mental health problems, and their co-occurrence in two separate school cohorts (2007/2008; 2024/2025) in the same Swedish municipality. Clinically relevant cutoffs were applied to self-report measures of NSSI (revised Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory), DE (Risk Behaviour related to Eating Disorders; girls only), and mental health problems (MHP; Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire – self-report). Analyses included gender-stratified mixed models (time trends per outcome) and binominal generalized log-linear models (time trends in NSSI/DE×MHP concurrence). Response rates were ≈ 90% in 2007/2008 (N = 987–992; Mage = 13.71–14.76) and ≈ 80% in 2024/2025 (N = 810–836; Mage = 13.71–14.79). Among girls, there were threefold increases in the prevalence of repetitive NSSI and high-risk DE combined with other mental health problems (NSSI + MHP from 6.6 to 21.0%; DE + MHP from 2.7 to 8.7%). The prevalence of repetitive NSSI or high-risk DE without co-occurring mental health problems did not change. Among boys, there was no increase in repetitive NSSI with/without other mental health problems. The rising trends in the prevalence of NSSI and DE among girls indicate worsening mental health, suggesting a need for increased attention and action from the healthcare system. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at https://doi.org/10.1007/s00787-026-03105-4.
SN - 1018-8827
SN - 1435-165X
ER -