Citation

Titelius EN, Cook E, Spas J, Orchowski L, Kivisto K, O'Brien KHM, Frazier E, Wolff JC, Dickstein DP, Kim KL, Seymour K. J. Aggression Maltreat. Trauma 2018; 27(3): 323-331.

Affiliation

Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Rhode Island Hospital and Bradley Hospital.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/10926771.2017.1338814

PMID

30369785

PMCID

PMC6108548

Abstract

One risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents is exposure to traumatic experiences, particularly child maltreatment. However, the mechanisms through which childhood maltreatment predicts NSSI are largely unknown. Emotion dysregulation (ED) is likely an important mechanism in this relationship. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between childhood maltreatment, ED, and NSSI in a sample of adolescent inpatients (n= 53).

RESULTS demonstrated that child physical and emotional maltreatment, but not child sexual abuse, was significantly associated with NSSI frequency. More specifically, ED mediated the relationship between child physical and emotional maltreatment and NSSI frequency.

FINDINGS support the importance of ED as a mediating factor in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and NSSI behaviors and highlight the need for teaching emotion regulation skills to youth affected by trauma.

Language: en

Keywords

adolescents; child abuse; child maltreatment; developmental psychopathology; emotion dysregulation; non-suicidal self-injury