An Investigation of the Mediating Roles of Emotion Regulation Difficulties, Distress Tolerance, Self-Compassion, and Self-Disgust in the Association Between Childhood Trauma and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Abstract

Objective

Childhood maltreatment has been associated as a risk factor with the development of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), with difficulty in emotion regulation explaining the association. However, little is known about the potential factors that make some individuals with maltreatment history more vulnerable to difficulties in emotion regulation and, in turn, engage in NSSI. The current study aimed to examine the roles of distress tolerance, self-compassion, and self-disgust in the association between childhood maltreatment types and emotion regulation difficulty, which was expected to predict NSSI.

Method

The sample included 397 university students between the ages of 18 and 30. Participants completed self-report scales assessing childhood maltreatment, emotion regulation difficulty, distress tolerance, self-compassion, self-disgust, and NSSI using the paper-pencil and online methods. The mediation model suggested for the association between childhood maltreatment types and NSSI was tested using path analysis.

Results

Low distress tolerance, low self-compassion, high self-disgust, and resulting high emotion regulation difficulty mediated the indirect effect of emotional neglect on NSSI.

Conclusion

The current study sheds light on various factors in the development and maintenance of NSSI and reveals three developmental pathways from emotional neglect in childhood to engaging in NSSI.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Emotional neglect may be a distal risk factor for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI).

• Low distress tolerance and self-compassion and high self-disgust may increase the risk of NSSI.

• Emotion regulation difficulty may make people engage in NSSI to regulate emotions.

Keywords:

• Childhood maltreatment
• difficulty in emotion regulation
• distress tolerance
• nonsuicidal self-injury
• self-compassion
• self-disgust

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, Y. E., upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Yasemin Erol

Yasemin Erol and Mujgan Inozu, Department of Psychology, Hacettepe University, Turkey, Ankara.

Mujgan Inozu

Yasemin Erol and Mujgan Inozu, Department of Psychology, Hacettepe University, Turkey, Ankara.