In any given year, roughly one in four girls in US high schools and one in 10 boys try to harm themselves even when they are not attempting suicide, a recent study suggests.

So-called non-suicidal self-injury has long been more common among girls than boys, but the current study offers fresh evidence that the problem is widespread for youth of both sexes.

While the study found a history of suicide attempts and suicidal thoughts may make self-harm more likely, the results also suggest that other events like being a victim of rape or cyberbullying can increase the risk.

Researchers surveyed more than 64,000 male and female high school students in 11 US states. Almost 18 percent reported at least one episode of self-injury in the previous year, according to a report in the American Journal of Public Health.

“Self-injury is surprisingly common among adolescents,” study leader Martin Monto of the University of Portland, Oregon, said by email. “For teens who are grappling with this issue or parents who are responding to it, they are not alone.”