Adherence to 24-h movement guidelines, particularly including the sleep guideline, is associated with lower odds of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents, with mediation by psychological health and moderation by sex.
In a cross-sectional study of 4,205 Chinese adolescents, meeting more 24-h movement guidelines was associated with progressively lower odds of NSSI (1 vs 0: OR=0.72; 2 vs 0: OR=0.44; 3 vs 0: OR=0.31). Combinations including the sleep guideline were associated with lower NSSI than those without, and the association was stronger in girls. Psychological health significantly mediated the relationship.
This article is automatically generated from the structured evidence profile behind the claim above. Scores reflect the quality and quantity of available research, not clinical advice.
Adherence to 24-h movement guidelines, particularly including the sleep guideline, is associated with lower odds of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents, with mediation by psychological health and moderation by sex. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Adherence to 24-h movement guidelines, particularly including the sleep guideline, is associated with lower odds of non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents, with mediation by psychological health and moderation by sex.
This conclusion is most relevant to: Adolescents (N=4,205) from five central Chinese cities..
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Associations between adherence to 24-h movement guidelines and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: separate moderation by sex and mediation by psychological health. (Frontiers in public health, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸Adherence to movement guidelines (especially sleep) is associated with better psychological health.
- ▸Better psychological health is associated with lower NSSI risk.
- ▸Sex moderates the association, with stronger effects in girls.
- ▸Result: Meeting more guidelines, particularly including sleep, is linked to reduced NSSI odds.
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸Adolescents (N=4,205) from five central Chinese cities.
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Cross-sectional design precludes causal inference.
- ▸Self-reported measures may introduce recall bias.
- ▸Sample limited to urban Chinese adolescents, limiting generalizability.
- ▸Low adherence to all three guidelines (1.28%) may reduce statistical power for some comparisons.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the prevalence of NSSI in this study?▼
The prevalence of NSSI was 35.29% among the 4,205 adolescents.
Which movement guideline was most strongly associated with lower NSSI?▼
Combinations including the sleep guideline were associated with lower NSSI than those without, suggesting sleep is particularly important.
Did meeting all three guidelines provide additional benefit over meeting two?▼
No significant additional reduction was found (OR=0.72, 95% CI 0.34-1.49), indicating that meeting two guidelines may be sufficient for some benefit.
Was the association different for boys and girls?▼
Yes, sex significantly moderated the association for meeting two guidelines and the 'screen + sleep' combination, with stronger negative associations in girls.
References
- 1.Wang C, Fan Y, Ren X, Zou Y, Tan S, Yang Y, Yao Q, Qian H. “Associations between adherence to 24-h movement guidelines and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: separate moderation by sex and mediation by psychological health..” Frontiers in public health, 2026. PMID: 42553275 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2026.1840941