Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 13, 2026

A Computer-Based Platform for Aiding Clinicians in Eating Disorder Analysis and Diagnosis
Published on: May 10, 2022
The uniqueness of negative urgency as a common risk factor for self-harm behaviors, alcohol consumption, and eating
Allyson L Dir1, Kenny Karyadi, Melissa A Cyders
1Department of Psychology, Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA. allydir@gmail.com
Abstract:
Research suggests that self-control, affective lability, and negative urgency are associated with deliberate self-harm, problematic alcohol consumption, and eating problems. Few studies have fully examined how negative urgency might uniquely explain the effects of self-control and affective lability on these outcomes, as compared to other impulsivity-related traits. This was the goal of the current study. Of an initial group of 734 undergraduate students, 29% indicated a history of deliberate self-harm. These 215 individuals were randomly matched with a group of non-self-harmers (total N=430; mean age=22.36, SD=6.59; 76.2% female). Self-harmers showed higher rates of alcohol use (F(2, 186)=5.48, p<.001) and eating problems (F(2, 186)=7.74, p<.001). In a structural equation model, negative urgency was significantly associated with self-harming frequency (β=3.81, p<.001), variety of self-harm methods (β=5.79, p<.001), the number of years of self-harming (β=2.75, p<.001), problematic alcohol use (β=1.80, p<.05), and eating problems (β=3.99, p<.001). Negative urgency was positively associated with affective lability (β=7.71, p<.001) and negatively associated with self-control (β=-13.59, p<.001). Negative urgency is the only impulsivity-related trait that is a common risk factor associated with increased self-harm, problematic alcohol use, and eating problems.
Related Concept Videos
Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Bulimia Nervosa
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques IV
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
Binge Eating Disorders
Introduction to Psychological Disorders
Deviant Behavior
Deviance in behavior refers to actions or thought patterns that significantly diverge from societal norms or...

