Abuse subtypes and nonsuicidal self-injury: preliminary evidence of complex emotion regulation patterns

• Published in: The journal of nervous and mental disease Vol. 198; no. 4; p. 258
• Main Authors: Muehlenkamp, Jennifer J, Kerr, Patrick L, Bradley, April R, Adams Larsen, Margo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.04.2010
• Subjects: Adaptation, Psychological; Adolescent; Child; Child Abuse - psychology; Child Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Child Abuse, Sexual - psychology; Child Abuse, Sexual - statistics & numerical data; Emotions; Female; Humans; Male; Personality Inventory; Self-Injurious Behavior - epidemiology; Self-Injurious Behavior - psychology; Statistics as Topic; Students - psychology; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1539-736X
• DOI: 10.1097/NMD.0b013e3181d612ab

Research has identified complex relationships between abuse experiences, emotion regulation, and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). Data generally indicate that individuals with an abuse experience, or those with NSSI, have difficulties with emotion regulation. However, it is unknown whether there are specific patterns of emotion regulation difficulties across abuse subtypes that are uniquely associated with engaging in NSSI. Using a sample of 2238 college students (n = 419; 18.1% with NSSI histories), the present study examined differences in emotion regulation difficulties across specific abuse types between those with and without a history of NSSI. Results indicate significantly greater difficulties with emotion regulation among abused and self-injuring participants as well as significant differences on specific emotion regulation problems between self-injuring and noninjuring participants within the physical abuse and combination physical/sexual abuse subtypes. Possible explanations and implications of these findings are discussed.