Predictors of Unintentionally Severe Harm During Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury

Abstract

This study aimed to identify predictors of unintentionally severe injury during nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI). The authors examined 3 potential predictors in a sample of 102 college students: addictive qualities of NSSI, impulsivity, and dissociation. Both impulsivity and addictive qualities of NSSI were associated with unintentionally severe injury during NSSI. In a logistic regression, only addictive qualities of NSSI emerged as a significant predictor of unintentionally severe injury during NSSI. Implications for counseling and research are discussed.

Experiences of Unintentionally Severe Harm During Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury Among College Students

“…These results were in line with a report by Buser et al (2017), in which college students who experienced an unintentionally severe injury during NSSI were more likely to experience addictive features of NSSI, compared with individuals who did not experience an unintentionally severe injury during NSSI. This result suggests that the addictive features of NSSI (e.g., difficulty reducing behavior despite presence of negative consequences, the need to engage more frequently or more severely to get the same effect, and increasingly more time spent on behavior) increase the risk of accidental injury.…”

“…Taken together, previous researchers have found that increased severity of NSSI engagement (e.g., engagement in multiple methods and frequent engagement), addictive features of NSSI, and use of substances or alcohol during NSSI partially explain the occurrences of unintentionally severe injuries during NSSI among college students (Buser et al, 2017;Whitlock et al, 2008Whitlock et al, , 2011. Although these findings shed light on salient factors behind unintentionally severe injuries, the current body of research represents a very early stage of development.…”

“…For example, Whitlock et al (2011) found that 21.1% of undergraduate students who performed NSSI had inflicted more harm to themselves than intended. In another study assessing NSSI among university students, Buser et al (2017) found a similar trend, in that 31.4% of participants who engaged in NSSI over the last 12 months had injured themselves more severely than intended.…”

“…The findings correspond to research on addictive processes in NSSI engagement. For example, Buser et al (2017) found that individuals who experience NSSI as an addiction tend to be at higher risk for unintentionally severe injury. It may be, for example, that such individuals develop tolerance to the behavior over time and try a new method (e.g., harming themselves more frequently or more deeply) in order to achieve the same function.…”

“…Furthermore, the current line of research is limited in number and is just beginning to explore possible predictors of unintentionally severe injuries during NSSI. For example, in a regression analysis of multiple predictors (dissociation, impulsivity, and experiencing NSSI as an addiction) of unintentional injuries during NSSI, Buser et al (2017) found only one significant predictor of unintentional injuries (specifically, experiencing NSSI as an addiction), and the effect size for this finding was relatively small. The small effect size suggested that other predictor variables may be more important in explaining variance in the outcome variable.…”