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Children
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Factors Associated with Adolescent and Young Risk Behaviors and Intervention...
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Factors Associated with Adolescent and Young Risk Behaviors and Intervention Measures

A special issue of Children (ISSN 2227-9067). This special issue belongs to the section "Pediatric Mental Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 May 2026) | Viewed by 1287

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Elena Cattelino

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Human and Social Science, University of Valle d’Aosta, 11100 Aosta, Italy
Interests: developmental psychology; adolescence; risk behaviors; risk and protective factors; psychological wellbeing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Mara Morelli

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, and Health Studies, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
Interests: developmental psychology; sexual risk behaviors; sexting; adolescence; children and pre-adolescent
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Adolescence and young adulthood represent critical developmental periods marked by increased vulnerability to risk behaviors, including substance use, behavioral addictions, maladaptive social interactions (sexting, bullying, and intrusive behaviors), and unhealthy lifestyles. These behaviors are influenced by a complex interplay of biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. Understanding these influences is essential for developing effective preventive and intervention strategies.

This Special Issue aims to explore the determinants of risk behaviors among adolescents and young people, with a focus on identifying protective factors and evidence-based interventions. We seek to highlight cutting-edge research that advances knowledge in this area, including multidisciplinary studies.

We invite original research articles, reviews, and case studies that examine psychological, familial, social, and digital influences on youth behavior, as well as innovative prevention and intervention programs. Contributions addressing health disparities and vulnerable populations are particularly encouraged.

Prof. Dr. Elena Cattelino
Prof. Dr. Mara Morelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Children is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • adolescent risk behaviors
  • maladaptive social interactions
  • protective factors
  • preventive and intervention strategies

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 262 KB  
Article
Suicidal Behaviour, Self-Harm and Related Factors: A Retrospective Study from the Adolescent Psychiatric Unit
by Sigita Lesinskienė, Miglė Zabarauskaitė, Tadas Valiulis, Giedrius Dailidė and Arūnas Germanavičius
Children 2026, 13(1), 147; https://doi.org/10.3390/children13010147 - 20 Jan 2026
Viewed by 888
Abstract
Background and objectives: Suicide attempts and self-harm are critical issues in adolescence, often leading to serious and irreversible consequences. These behaviours frequently co-occur and share common biopsychosocial risk factors. Identifying these factors enables a more comprehensive assessment of suicide and self-harm risk, [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: Suicide attempts and self-harm are critical issues in adolescence, often leading to serious and irreversible consequences. These behaviours frequently co-occur and share common biopsychosocial risk factors. Identifying these factors enables a more comprehensive assessment of suicide and self-harm risk, helping specialists recognize high-risk individuals and implement effective preventive measures. This study aimed to examine the association between suicide attempts, self-harm and psychosocial factors among hospitalized adolescents. Materials and methods: A retrospective data analysis was performed using the database of the University Department of Children and Adolescents of the Republican Vilnius Psychiatric Hospital. The study covered patients’ records from December 2022 to February 2025. Information on gender, age, suicide attempts, self-harm, adverse events (bullying, psychological abuse, physical violence within the family, and sexual abuse) and unhealthy habits (smoking, harmful alcohol consumption, and psychoactive substance use), was selected and analyzed in this study. A Chi-square test was used to assess the difference between groups. Results were considered statistically significant when p < 0.05. Results: The study included 599 hospitalized adolescents (26.9% boys; mean age 15.1 ± 1.4 years), of whom 70.8% reported at least one episode of self-harm and 37.8% at least one suicide attempt. Rates of self-harm and suicide attempts were significantly higher in girls than in boys (self-harm: 81.3% vs. 42.2%, ϕ=0.381, p<0.001; suicide attempts: 45.5% vs. 16.5%, ϕ=0.304, p<0.001), and adolescents with self-harm had a significantly higher prevalence of suicide attempts than those without self-harm (46.7% vs. 15.8%, ϕ=0.308, p<0.001). Adverse childhood experiences and unhealthy behaviours were significantly more frequent in adolescents with self-harm and suicide attempts, although effect sizes were small to moderate (ϕ range 0.086–0.230, all p<0.05). In multivariable models, female gender (β=0.355, p<0.001) and smoking (β=0.330, p<0.001) were the strongest predictors of self-harm, whereas alcohol use (β=0.337, p<0.001) and self-harm (β=0.232, p<0.001). Conclusions: Exposure to adverse childhood experiences and engagement in unhealthy habits were associated with higher rates of both self-harm and suicide attempts. A comprehensive assessment and early detection of self-harm behaviours and adverse psychosocial circumstances are crucial elements of effective suicide prevention strategies and prompt intervention among high-risk adolescents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Associated with Adolescent and Young Risk Behaviors and Intervention Measures)
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