Psychology Ph.D. Dissertations

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and its Relation to Components of Therapeutic Approaches

Date of Award

2023

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.)

Department

Psychology/Clinical

First Advisor

Eric Dubow (Committee Chair)

Second Advisor

Adam Watkins (Other)

Third Advisor

Anne Gordon (Committee Member)

Fourth Advisor

William O'Brien (Committee Member)

Abstract

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) is defined as the “direct, deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent” The prevalence rates of NSSI in the general population are between 1%-4% in adults, 17-38% in college students, 12-21% in adolescents, and 7% among preadolescents. Although NSSI is not generally accompanied by suicidal intent, it is a dangerous behavior than can lead to increased distress, serious injury, or death. There are not many efficacy studies of therapeutic approaches for NSSI, in part because there is relatively little research that links critical components of the therapeutic approaches to NSSI. The present study examines the relations of the various components of two therapeutic approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and NSSI in a college sample. Participants completed a questionnaire assessing their lifetime engagement in NSSI, including recency and frequency, as well as their use of various CBT coping skills and ACT skills. Results suggest that both components of ACT and CBT are significantly related to NSSI; lifetime NSSI engagement was significantly lower in participants who use positive CBT coping skills, such as cognitive restructuring and emotional expression, and ACT skills, such as acceptance and engagement in valued behaviors. Conversely, NSSI engagement was found to be significantly higher in those that used negative CBT coping skills such as emotional numbing and denial. Findings from the current study have implication for future research, including the creation and implementation of intervention and prevention programs for NSSI.

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