ERIC Number: EJ1473596
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Jun
Pages: 9
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1362-3613
EISSN: EISSN-1461-7005
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Type, Content, and Triggers for Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors in Autistic Youth and Their Disclosure to Caregivers
Jessica M. Schwartzman1,2,3; Alex Rubin4; Kathryn R. Fox4; Darren Hedley5; Alexandra H. Bettis1
Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, v29 n6 p1627-1635 2025
Rates of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors are elevated among autistic youth, yet research is limited to caregiver report or single-item questionnaires. Investigation of specific suicidal thoughts, triggers, and disclosure is needed to improve risk assessment and interventions. The current study characterized self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in a sample of autistic youth without intellectual disability presenting for outpatient psychological services. The Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale and qualitative follow-up questions were administered to 103 autistic youth (10-17 years of age). Most autistic youth (n = 86; 83.5%) reported lifetime suicidal thoughts. Suicide thought content most commonly included abstract thoughts of dying/suicide (n = 20; 23.3%) and death by cutting (n = 13; 15.1%). Half of youth experiencing suicidal thoughts (n = 43; 50.0%) denied disclosure to their caregiver. Nearly one in four youth attempted suicide (n = 25; 24.3%), and some youth (n = 16; 15.5%) sought help from caregivers to prevent an attempt. Sadness/depression and bullying/teasing were the most commonly reported triggers of suicidal behaviors. Among autistic youth with lifetime nonsuicidal self-injury (n = 52; 50.5%), head hitting (n = 28; 45.2%) and cutting (n = 20; 32.3%) were the most reported types. Findings underscore the importance of targeted prevention and intervention to address self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in autistic youth and continued research to understand barriers and modifiable factors to facilitate self-injurious thoughts and behaviors disclosure.
Descriptors: Autism Spectrum Disorders, Self Destructive Behavior, Psychological Patterns, Behavior Problems, Suicide, Preadolescents, Adolescents, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Help Seeking, Depression (Psychology), Bullying, Etiology
SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: https://sagepub.com
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (DHHS/NIH); National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS) (DHHS/NIH)
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: K23MH131852; L40MH134254; K23MH122737; R34132711; P50MH096889; CTSAUL1TR000445
Author Affiliations: 1Vanderbilt University Medical Center, USA; 2University of Southern California, USA; 3Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, USA; 4University of Denver, USA; 5La Trobe University, Australia