SELF-MUTILATION AMONG ADOLESCENTS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW WITH META-ANALYSIS

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to estimate the prevalence of self-mutilation among adolescents and the factors that influence it. Method: this is a systematic review with meta-analysis. The search was carried out October 2021 in the following databases: SciELO, LILACS, MEDLINE and PubMed databases, with the descriptors “Adolescente” and “Comportamento autodestrutivo” and “Adolescent” and “Self-destructive behavior”, combined by the Boolean operator “AND.” We included studies published between 2015 and 2021, quantitative, in Portuguese, English and Spanish, available in full. We excluded documents that did not contain the amount referring to adolescents who practiced self-mutilation, duplicate and review studies. Study selection was performed by pairs, removing duplicates and applying inclusion and exclusion criteria, reading titles, abstracts and full text. In the end, the sample consisted of 86 studies. Meta-analysis was performed using the R software through the elaboration of forest plot, heterogeneity test, funnel test and Egger’s test. Results: the prevalence of self-mutilation among adolescents averaged 21%, with the United States standing out with the highest percentage. Among the identified factors, older adolescents, female, economically disadvantaged, who experience family conflicts, with parents with low education, victims of violence and bullying and who have friends with suicidal behavior stood out. Conclusion: self-mutilation is socially determined so that its prevalence varies according to the integration between different factors. In this context, it is necessary for nursing professionals to offer emotional support to adolescents and their families.