[A Multidimensional Assessment of Emotion Regulation in Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury]

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Clinical Psychology
• Developmental Psychology

Background:

• Emotion regulation (ER) is crucial for goal attainment and mental well-being.
• Disrupted ER development is linked to psychopathology, including non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).
• NSSI is a prevalent and impairing issue in adolescents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine emotion regulation (ER) multidimensionally in female adolescents with NSSI disorder.
• To compare ER profiles between adolescents with NSSI disorder and healthy controls.
• To investigate the relationship between ER, depressive and BPD symptomatology, and early life maltreatment in NSSI.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study comparing female adolescents with DSM-5 NSSI disorder (N=30) and healthy controls (N=30).
• Multidimensional assessment of various aspects of emotion regulation (ER).
• Evaluation of depressive and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) symptomatology and early life maltreatment.

Main Results:

• Adolescents with NSSI disorder showed significant difficulties across all investigated aspects of ER.
• Specific ER deficits were distinctly associated with depressive and BPD symptomatology.
• NSSI frequency was explained by ER difficulties and early life maltreatment severity.

Conclusions:

• Emotion regulation (ER) deficits are central to NSSI disorder in female adolescents.
• Interventions targeting specific ER deficits, alongside developmental history and psychopathology, are crucial for effective treatment.
• Addressing ER impairments may facilitate lasting change in managing deliberate self-harm.