The Association Between Internet Addiction and Non‐Suicidal Self‐Injury Among Adolescents: A Meta‐Analysis

BACKGROUND: Internet addiction and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) have emerged as prominent psychological concerns among adolescents. Despite numerous investigations into the relationship between these two behaviors, the findings remain inconsistent. This study aims to elucidate the relationship between Internet addiction and NSSI among adolescents. METHODS: Thirteen databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, PsycINFO, Embase, Cochrane, Scopus, ProQuest, CINAHL, MEDLINE, SinoMed, CNKI, Wanfang, and VIP, were systematically searched, covering the period from inception to October 2024. Two independent reviewers conducted study screening, data extraction, and quality evaluation of the included studies. The statistical software STATA 18.0 was utilized to conduct data analysis. RESULTS: Forty-one studies were included from a total of 835 articles retrieved from the databases, encompassing a sample of 284,786 adolescents. A random effects model was utilized for pooled analysis, revealing a moderate positive association between Internet addiction and NSSI (r = 0.23, 95% CI = 0.20-0.27). Furthermore, adolescents' gender, age, and the measurement tools employed played moderating roles in the relationship between Internet addiction and NSSI. However, neither the publication year, the region, nor the adjusted versus unadjusted effect sizes moderated the relationship between the two. CONCLUSIONS: A moderate positive link exists between Internet addiction and NSSI among adolescents. Future preventive measures against NSSI among adolescents should focus more on those with internet addiction, assisting them in overcoming their addiction and establishing healthy online behavior patterns. Additionally, future longitudinal studies are needed to explore the dynamic changes between Internet addiction and NSSI among adolescents.