1. Nonsuicidal self-injury as an affect-regulation strategy and the moderating role of impulsivity
- Author
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Rossella Di Pierro, I Sarno, Fabio Madeddu, Marcello Gallucci, DI PIERRO, R, Sarno, I, Gallucci, M, and Madeddu, F
- Subjects
impulsivity ,Affect (psychology) ,Impulsivity ,affect-regulation ,Arousal ,Developmental psychology ,Affect regulation ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health ,medicine ,adolescence ,medicine.symptom ,Association (psychology) ,Psychology ,nonsuicidal self-injury ,Clinical psychology - Abstract
Background Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is used to cope with negative affect states. We investigated the association between impulsivity and this affect-regulation process. Method Affect states associated with NSSI and impulsivity traits were evaluated in 30 Italian adolescent self-injurers (63.3% female, mean age = 16.63, SD = 0.56). Results Nonsuicidal self-injury was associated with decreases in affective arousal, but impulsivity moderated other affective changes. High impulsivity was associated with increases in negative high-arousal affects after NSSI, whereas low impulsivity was associated with increases in positive affects after NSSI. Conclusion Impulsivity traits influenced the success or failure of the NSSI affect-regulation process.
- Published
- 2014