Adolescents choosing self-harm as an emotion regulation strategy: the protective role of trait emotional intelligence

Abstract

Objectives: The present study seeks to extend the understanding of the role of dispositional factors in the aetiology of self-harm among adolescents. We hypothesized that higher trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) would be associated with a lower likelihood to harm oneself, and that this relationship would be mediated by the choice of coping strategies.

Design and methods: Trait EI, coping styles and self-harm behaviours were assessed in 490 adolescents recruited from eight British schools.

Results: The results supported our hypothesis and showed that the relationship between trait EI and self-harm was partly mediated by the choice of coping strategies. Emotional coping was a particularly powerful mediator, suggesting that self-harm may be a way to decrease the negative emotions that are exacerbated by maladaptive emotional coping strategies, such as rumination, self-blame, and helplessness. Trait EI was correlated positively with adaptive coping styles and negatively with maladaptive coping styles, and depression.

Conclusions: These findings emphasize the potential value of incorporating coping coaching programmes in the treatment of self-harm patients.