Deviant Peer Affiliation and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Chinese Adolescents: Depression as a Mediator and Sensation Seeking as a Moderator

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging health problem among adolescents. Although previous studies have shown that deviant peer affiliation is an important risk factor for this behavior, the reasons for this relationship are unclear. Based on the integrated theoretical model of the development and maintenance of NSSI and the social development model of delinquency prevention, this study tested whether depression mediated the relationship between deviant peer affiliation and NSSI and whether this mediating effect was moderated by sensation seeking. A sample of 854 Chinese adolescents (31.50% male; Mage = 16.35; SD = 1.15) anonymously completed questionnaires on the study variables. Results of regression-based analyses showed that depression mediated the association between deviant peer affiliation and NSSI, and this effect was stronger among adolescents who reported high sensation seeking. The results demonstrate the role of individual differences in the link between affiliation with deviant peers and NSSI, and have implications for preventing and treating this risky behavior.

Parental Corporal Punishment and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Chinese Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptoms and the Moderating Role of the GABRA2 Genotype

“…In line with this model, the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI may be moderated by some individual traits. Earlier research reported some psychological moderators (e.g., resilience, trait hope, impulsivity) moderated the relationship between negative affective states and NSSI (Jiang et al, 2018;Wei et al, 2021;Xiao et al, 2020;You et al, 2016). We extended earlier research by identifying a genetic moderator, namely the GABRA2 rs279858 genotype, in the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI.…”

“…That is, some individual traits may moderate the relationship between negative affective states (e.g., depressive symptoms) and NSSI. This view has been supported by previous studies that identi ed several individual psychological moderators (e.g., trait hope, resilience, and impulsivity) in the association between negative affective states and adolescent NSSI (Jiang et al, 2018;Wei et al, 2021;Xiao et al, 2020;You et al, 2016). As important biological markers of individual differences, some genes may also play moderating roles in the relationship between depressive symptoms and NSSI.…”

“…In the current study, we identi ed a risk-buffering role of the rs279858 GA and GG genotypes (compared with the AA genotype) in the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI. Accounting for earlier research reporting that impulsivity enhanced the association between negative affective states and NSSI (Wei et al, 2021;You et al, 2016), our results support those of the previous studies that recognized the Aallele as the risk allele for impulsivity phenotypes in the GABRA2 rs279858 gene (e.g., Dick et al, 2014; F. L. Wang et al, 2016). Given that no previous research has investigated the role of the GABRA2 gene in NSSI, the results in our study should be seen as preliminary, and they need to be replicated in future studies.…”

“…For example, a latent growth curve study of 3,453 Chinese adolescents suggested high impulsivity (especially negative urgency) enhanced the association between negative emotions and NSSI (You et al, 2016). Similarly, a cross-sectional study showed that high sensationseeking strengthened the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI (Wei et al, 2021). Based on the bene ts and barriers model and previous empirical ndings, we generated our third hypothesis: the GABRA2 genotype moderates the association between depressive symptoms and NSSI.…”

Gratitude buffers the effects of stressful life events and deviant peer affiliation on adolescents’ non-suicidal self-injury

“…Therefore, we assume that deviant peer affiliation should increase this risk of NSSI. Indeed, a previous study showed that deviant peer affiliation was positively correlated with NSSI among Chinese adolescents (Wei et al, 2021). In addition, the social development model (Hawkins and Weis, 1985) postulates that families, schools, peers, and communities all contribute to individual development.…”