Latent Profiles of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Functions and Severity Among Korean Adolescents: Associations With Social Exposure and Cognitive Functioning

Abstract Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is common during adolescence, yet adolescents who engage in NSSI may differ substantially in its functions and severity. This study identified latent profiles of NSSI and examined their associations with social exposure and cognitive functioning among 384 Korean adolescents with past-year NSSI. Latent profile analysis identified four profiles: low function–low severity, intrapersonal–high severity, moderate mixed-function, and socially oriented mixed-function. Greater media exposure was associated with membership in all three other profiles relative to the low function–low severity profile, whereas interpersonal exposure differentiated specific profiles. Profiles also differed in positive and negative automatic thoughts and social problem-solving characteristics, with the intrapersonal–high severity profile generally demonstrating greater cognitive vulnerability. Findings highlight clinically meaningful heterogeneity in adolescent NSSI and support assessment approaches that consider NSSI functions, severity, social exposure, and cognitive characteristics.