Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40512818›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2025

The role of control in precipitating and motivating self-harm in young people: A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative data.

Demee Rheinberger, Aimy Slade, Biya Tang, Ashley Hoye, Hiroko Fujimoto, Wu-Yi Zheng, Glenn Holmes, Katherine Boydell, Alison L Calear, Helen Christensen and 1 more

Abstract readSystematic Review
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Demee RheinbergerBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-4493-8565
Aimy SladeBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Biya TangBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Ashley HoyeCentre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
Hiroko FujimotoBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Wu-Yi ZhengBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Glenn HolmesBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Katherine BoydellBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Alison L CalearCentre for Mental Health Research, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-7028-725X
Helen ChristensenBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Samantha TangBlack Dog Institute, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Funding

Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF), Australia 1200195National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Fellowships 1155614 & 1173146
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The last decade has seen a steady rise in self-harm rates in young people in developed countries. Understanding the experience of self-harm in young people can provide insight into what may be driving this increase. The aim of the current review was therefore to synthesise qualitative research examining precipitating and motivating factors underlying self-harm in young people. PsychInfo, Embase and Medline were systematically searched for articles published up to September 2024. A total of 50 qualitative studies (study N ranging from 3-115) were identified, and key findings were synthesised using Attride-Stirling's Thematic Network Analysis process. The quality of included studies was assessed using a modified version of two Joanna-Briggs Institute Checklists. Control was identified as a global theme. Precipitants were informed by young people's perception of an absence of control and the desire to gain control was identified as an underlying motivation for self-harm. The findings from this review highlight the need to support and educate young people to improve their distress tolerance, particularly in respect to situations outside of their control. Furthermore, therapeutic interventions, and training and educational programs targeting young people who self-harm and their family members might be effective interventions for self-harm in young people.

Indexed as

MotivationSelf-Injurious BehaviorAdolescentFemaleHumansMaleQualitative ResearchYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID40512818
PMCPMC12165347

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.