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Emotion Regulation, Coping and Alcohol Use as Moderators in the Relationship Between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Psychological Distress

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Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury is a risk factor for more severe self-injury and later suicide, yet is relatively under-researched in non-clinical populations. In order to prevent more severe self-injury and later suicide, understanding of non-suicidal self-injury is imperative. This study aimed to examine whether coping skills, emotion regulation and alcohol use moderate the relationship between psychological distress and non-suicidal self-injury. Two hundred eighty-nine young adults completed self-report questionnaires assessing the variables of interest. Of the sample, 47.4% reported a history of non-suicidal self-injury. Adaptive coping strategies protected those who were psychologically distressed from severe self-injury. However for those who reported greater distress, this protective effect was negated by heavy alcohol use. Coping skills training may serve to protect young people from self-injury, although those who are severely distressed may also benefit from strategies to limit alcohol use.

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  1. Readers are encouraged to contact the authors for further information regarding this scale.

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  1. School of Psychology, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine, Monash University, Caulfield East, 3145, VIC, Australia

    Fiona Williams & Penelope Hasking

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  1. Fiona Williams
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  2. Penelope Hasking
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Correspondence to Penelope Hasking.

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Williams, F., Hasking, P. Emotion Regulation, Coping and Alcohol Use as Moderators in the Relationship Between Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Psychological Distress. Prev Sci 11, 33–41 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0147-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-009-0147-8

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