Daily associations of interpersonal and emotional experiences following stressful events among young adults with and without nonsuicidal self-injury

Christopher R Berghoff; Katherine L Dixon-Gordon; Alexander L Chapman; Margaret M Baer; Brianna J Turner; Matthew T Tull; Kim L Gratz

doi:10.1002/jclp.23359

Daily associations of interpersonal and emotional experiences following stressful events among young adults with and without nonsuicidal self-injury

J Clin Psychol. 2022 Nov;78(11):2329-2340. doi: 10.1002/jclp.23359. Epub 2022 Apr 7.

Authors

Christopher R Berghoff¹, Katherine L Dixon-Gordon², Alexander L Chapman³, Margaret M Baer⁴, Brianna J Turner⁵, Matthew T Tull⁴, Kim L Gratz⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, South Dakota, USA.
² Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA.
³ Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, USA.
⁴ Department of Psychology, University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio, USA.
⁵ Department of Psychology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, USA.

PMID: 35390173
DOI: 10.1002/jclp.23359

Abstract

Objectives: Emotional and interpersonal dysfunction appears central to nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), yet research examining the interplay of these factors among individuals with NSSI is limited. This study aimed to specify such associations before and after daily stressful events among individuals with (vs. without) NSSI.

Methods: Young adult participants (M_age = 20.4) with past-year (n = 56) or no history (n = 47) of NSSI completed daily diary assessments over a 2-week period.

Results: No differences in rates of positive or negative interpersonal experiences before or after stressful events were identified. NSSI participants, however, reported greater negative emotion following stressful events compared with non-NSSI participants. The presence (vs. absence) of a positive interpersonal experience following a stressful event was related to lower negative emotional responses only in the NSSI group.

Conclusion: Positive interpersonal experiences may downregulate negative emotions following stressful events among individuals with NSSI, highlighting the potential relevance of interpersonal emotion regulation to this population.

Keywords: daily diary; emotion regulation; interpersonal; nonsuicidal self-injury; self-harm.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Emotions
Humans
Self-Injurious Behavior* / psychology
Young Adult

Grants and funding

343892/CIHR/Canada