Parental pressure and intrapersonal risk factors in relation to non-suicidal self-injury outcomes in university students

• Published in: Current psychology (New Brunswick, N.J.) Vol. 42; no. 36; pp. 31944 - 31960
• Main Authors: Guérin-Marion, Camille, Bureau, Jean-François, Gareau, Alexandre, Lafontaine, Marie-France, Gaudreau, Patrick
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.12.2023; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Behavioral Science and Psychology; Psychology; Risk factors; Self destructive behavior; Social Sciences; University students; Parent-child relationships; Academic coping; Achievement pressure; Emotion regulation; Perfectionism; Non-suicidal self-injury
• ISSN: 1046-1310; 1936-4733
• DOI: 10.1007/s12144-022-04173-w

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among university students, yet risk models for NSSI are rarely contextualized to the experiences of university students. The current study explored a risk model for NSSI among university students, with a focus on parent-child relational risk factors and intrapersonal vulnerabilities likely to be heightened by the achievement-focused context of the university years. A sample of 2,579 students (75.2% female) reported on experiences relating to perceived mother and father pressure, emotion dysregulation, academic coping, perfectionism (self-oriented, socially-prescribed), and past-year NSSI. Analyses involved structural equation modeling using a combined linear and zero-inflated negative binomial regression approach. Structural equation models revealed that higher perceived mother and father pressure were associated with greater past-year NSSI likelihood amongst university students. Perceived mother and father pressure were also positively associated with four intrapersonal markers of risk (self-oriented perfectionism, socially-prescribed perfectionism, academic disengagement coping, emotion dysregulation). Among these, only emotion dysregulation was linked with higher NSSI likelihood and frequency. In contrast, students higher in self-oriented perfectionism appeared less likely to engage in NSSI. Gender differences were also examined as an exploratory goal. Findings provide further insights into patterns of NSSI vulnerability among university students.