Problematic Behaviors and Self-Injurious Behavior in Adolescents: Testing Procrastination as a Mediator in a Clinical Sample
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Objective: This study examined associations between internalizing and externalizing problem behaviors and self-injurious behavior in adolescents, and tested whether procrastination mediates these relationships.
Methods and Materials: In this descriptive-correlational, cross-sectional study, 137 adolescents aged 14–17 years with a documented history of self-harm were recruited purposively from counseling and psychology clinics in Tehran between September and November 2024. Self-injurious behavior was assessed with the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory, problem behaviors with the Teacher’s Report Form of the Achenbach System (anxiety/depression, withdrawal/depression, somatic complaints, social problems, thought problems, attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, aggressive behavior), and procrastination with the Tuckman Procrastination Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS 27 for descriptive statistics and Pearson correlations, and SmartPLS 4 for structural equation modeling with bootstrapped direct and indirect effects; statistical significance was set at p≤0.05.
Findings: Anxiety/depression, aggressive behavior, somatic complaints, and thought problems showed positive and significant direct effects on self-harm, whereas attention problems, rule-breaking behavior, social problems, and withdrawal/depression did not. Aggressive behavior, social problems, and withdrawal/depression had significant positive direct effects on procrastination. The path from procrastination to self-harm was not significant, and none of the indirect paths from problem behaviors to self-harm through procrastination reached significance.
Conclusion: Specific internalizing dimensions and aggression are associated with higher levels of self-injurious behavior in treatment-seeking adolescents, but procrastination did not emerge as a significant mediator or proximal risk factor. Prevention and intervention efforts should prioritize assessment and treatment of emotional difficulties and aggression, while considering procrastination as a secondary target.
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