Psychological Development and Education ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (4): 586-595.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2026.04.13

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Developmental Trajectories of Non-suicidal Self-injury in Left-behind Children: The Impact of Peer Victimization Patterns

WU Min1, ZHANG Jie2, YE Panqin3, GONG Xi1, YUAN Keman4   

  1. 1. School of Humanities and Social Sciences, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou 341000;
    2. School of Educational Science, Gannan Normal University, Ganzhou 341000;
    3. School of Education Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006;
    4. Shanghai Institute of Early Childhood Education, Shanghai Normal University, Shanghai 200234
  • Published:2026-07-04

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Abstract: To investigate the developmental trajectory of left-behind children’s non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), as well as the impact of different peer victimization patterns on them and gender differences, this study conducted a 1-year, 3-time points follow-up study on 539 left-behind children. The results showed that: (1) Left-behind children’s NSSI showed a linear downward trend from late childhood to early adolescence; (2) Peer victimization patterns had a significant effect on the initial level and developmental trajectory of left-behind children’s NSSI. The initial level of NSSI was highest in the High Physical-Verbal Victimization group and lowest in the Low School-Cyber Victimization group. The developmental trajectory of NSSI in the High School-Cyber Victimization group showed an upward trend, and the developmental trajectory in the Low School-Cyber Victimization group showed a downward trend; (3) In terms of gender differences, the initial level of NSSI among girls in the High Physical-verbal Victimization group is higher than that of boys, and their rate of decline is slower than that of boys, In the High School-Cyber Victimization group, the initial level of NSSI among boys is higher than that of girls. The research findings are supportive in revealing the influence of peer victimization patterns on the development of NSSI among left-behind children.

Key words: left-behind children, non-suicidal self-injury, school victimization, cyber-victimization, developmental trajectories

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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