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. 2007 Oct;45(10):2483-90.
doi: 10.1016/j.brat.2007.04.002. Epub 2007 Apr 18.

Child maltreatment, non-suicidal self-injury, and the mediating role of self-criticism

Lisa H Glassman  1 , Mariann R Weierich, Jill M Hooley, Tara L Deliberto, Matthew K Nock
Affiliations

Child maltreatment, non-suicidal self-injury, and the mediating role of self-criticism

Lisa H Glassman et al. Behav Res Ther. 2007 Oct.

Abstract

We examined the relation between child maltreatment and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). Participants were 86 adolescents who completed measures of child maltreatment, self-criticism, perceived criticism, depression, and NSSI. Analyses revealed significant, small-to-medium associations between specific forms of child maltreatment (physical neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse) and the presence of a recent history of NSSI. Emotional and sexual abuse had the strongest relations with NSSI, and the data supported a theoretical model in which self-criticism mediates the relation between emotional abuse and engagement in NSSI. Specificity for the mediating role of self-criticism was demonstrated by ruling out alternative mediation models. Taken together, these results indicate that several different forms of childhood maltreatment are associated with NSSI and illuminate one mechanism through which maltreatment may be associated with NSSI. Future research is needed to test the temporal relation between maltreatment and NSSI and should aim to identify additional pathways to engagement in NSSI.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Self-critical cognitive style mediates the relation between emotional abuse and NSSI
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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