Characterizing Interpersonal Difficulties Among Young Adults Who Engage in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Using a Daily Diary

Abstract

Compared to people who have never engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), people with a history of NSSI report multiple interpersonal problems. Theories propose that these interpersonal difficulties play a role in prompting and maintaining NSSI. The cross-sectional nature of most studies in this area limits our understanding of how day-to-day interpersonal experiences relate to the global interpersonal impairments observed among individuals with NSSI, and vice versa. This study compared young adults with (n = 60) and without (n = 56) recent, repeated NSSI on baseline and daily measures of interpersonal functioning during a 14-day daily diary study. Groups differed in baseline social anxiety, excessive reassurance seeking, and use of support seeking relative to other coping strategies, but did not differ in self-perceived interpersonal competence. In terms of day-to-day functioning, participants with (vs. without) NSSI had significantly less contact with their families and friends, perceived less support following interactions with friends, and were less likely to seek support to cope, regardless of level of negative affect. With the exception of contact with family members, these group differences in daily interpersonal functioning were accounted for by baseline levels of social anxiety and use of support seeking. Contrary to expectations, participants with NSSI had more frequent contact with their romantic partners, did not differ in perceptions of support in romantic relationships, and did not report more intense negative affect following negative interpersonal interactions. This study provides a novel test of recent interpersonal theories of NSSI using daily reports.Keywords nonsuicidal self-injury; self-harm; social support; experience sampling; daily diary Address correspondence to Brianna J. Turner, Ph.D., Department of Psychology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University Drive, Burnaby, BC, Canada, V5A 1S6; briannat@sfu.ca. Conflict of Interest StatementThe authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.Behav Ther. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2017 July 11. CIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author Manuscript CIHR Author ManuscriptAlthough nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been recognized for decades as a serious clinical problem due to its associations with psychopathology, suicidality, and functional impairment (Glenn & Klonsky, 2013;Selby, Bender, Gordon, Nock, & Joiner, 2011), recent evidence suggests that NSSI is also associated with impairments in interpersonal functioning. Compared to individuals without a history of NSSI, those with NSSI report pervasive interpersonal problems, including poorer quality relationships with peers and caregivers (Claes, Houben, Vandereycken, Bijttebier, & Muehlenkamp, 2010;Gratz, Conrad, & Roemer, 2002;Hilt, Nock, Lloyd-Richardson, & Prinstein, 2008;Hoff & Muehlenkamp, 2009), greater loneliness (Giletta, Scholte, Engels, Ciairano, & Prinstein, 2012;Glenn & Klonsky, 2013;Guertin, Lloyd-Richardson, Spirito, Donaldson, & Boergers, 2001), higher rate...

Family factors associated with self‐harm in adults: a systematic review

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Relations of anxiety sensitivity dimensions to nonsuicidal self‐injury frequency and versatility among patients with substance use disorders

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