Understanding the Role of Spirituality in Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Narrative Review

Abstrak

Background:  Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an increasing concern among adolescents and is often linked to difficulties in emotional regulation and maladaptive coping strategies. As rates continue to rise, identifying protective factors is crucial. Spirituality has been proposed as a potential buffer against NSSI by enhancing emotional regulation, resilience, and impulse control.Objective: This literature review examined studies to explore the relationship between spirituality and NSSI in adolescents.Methods: A literature search was conducted in July 2024 using the ScienceDirect database with the keywords “nonsuicidal self-injury”, “adolescent”, and “spirituality.” Inclusion criteria included full-text articles published in English or Indonesian between 2020 and 2025.Results:  The findings suggest that higher levels of spirituality are associated with lower NSSI risk, while reduced spirituality may increase vulnerability. Spirituality appears to support emotional and behavioral regulation through its positive influence on prefrontal cortex functioning. Practices such as prayer and meditation may offer adaptive coping mechanisms that help adolescents manage distress without self-injury.Conclusion: Evidence suggests that spirituality enhances emotional regulation, resilience, and impulse control, potentially through its positive effects on prefrontal cortex functioning.  Despite promising evidence, further research is needed to develop culturally appropriate psychospiritual interventions and evaluate their long-term effectiveness in preventing and reducing NSSI among adolescents.