Applying social cognitive theory to nonsuicidal self-injury: Interactions between expectancy beliefs

Is ceasing self-injury enough? Differences in psychological health between people reporting behavioral cessation of non-suicidal self-injury and those who consider themselves to have stopped self-injuring

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the overlap between considering oneself to have stopped nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and the actual cessation of the behavior in terms of days self-injured in the last month and last year, and how these operationalizations are associated with constructs related to NSSI recovery.

METHODS

A cross-sectional survey including measures of coping, emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, general self-efficacy, and self-efficacy in resisting NSSI was answered by 144 adults aged 17-81 years (Mage [SD] = 21.43 [7.32]).

RESULTS

Having self-injured for ≥5 days in the last year was overly inclusive of individuals who currently considered themselves as having stopped NSSI (39.02%). Considering oneself to have stopped NSSI was associated with better emotion regulation (Cohen's d = 0.45), and higher general self-efficacy and higher self-efficacy to resist NSSI (d = 0.59-0.64) than behavioral cessation. Not actually engaging in NSSI was only associated with self-efficacy to resist NSSI in risk contexts, such that fewer days self-injured in the last year increased confidence (partial η2  = 0.085).

CONCLUSION

Accounting for whether an individual considers themselves as having stopped NSSI or not may complement estimates of behavioral cessation, and strengthen outcomes associated with NSSI recovery.

What's Different About Those Who Have Ceased Self-Injury? Comparison Between Current and Lifetime Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

OBJECTIVE

The current study aimed to investigate the sociodemographic and psychological variables as well as the function of NSSI related to the cessation of NSSI by analyzing the difference between those currently engaged in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) and those who have stopped NSSI behaviors.

METHODS

A total of 490 adults with a history of NSSI (359 females) were assigned to one of two groups: NSSI engagement within the last 12 months or "current NSSI" (n = 402) vs. no episode of NSSI in the previous 12 months or "lifetime NSSI" (n = 88).

RESULTS

There were no significant group differences in sex or socioeconomic status, while individuals with current NSSI were slightly younger than those who had ceased NSSI behavior. Regarding the functions of NSSI, the current NSSI group endorsed more intrapersonal functions. Moreover, the participants who had ceased NSSI behavior reported significantly less perceived stress, dysfunctional attitudes, alexithymia, emotion reactivity, and suicidal ideation. On the other hand, the lifetime NSSI group showed greater psychological resources such as self-esteem, distress tolerance, and resilience.

CONCLUSIONS

We revealed apparent differences in NSSI functions, clinical symptoms, and psychological resources depending on the maintenance and cessation of NSSI. This study highlights the need for a better understanding of the factors that stop as well as those that continue NSSI behaviors. HIGHLIGHTSThe lifetime NSSI group reported less intrapersonal NSSI functions.The current NSSI group suffered from more clinical symptoms.Individuals who ceased NSSI had more psychological resources.

When Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Predicts Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Poor Sleep-Results from a Larger Cross-Sectional and Quasi-Longitudinal Study

Poor sleep is associated with a higher risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as a proxy of unfavorable emotion regulation. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that past non-suicidal self-injury was associated with current non-suicidal self-injury and with current subjective sleep patterns. To this end, a larger sample of young adults were assessed. A total of 2374 adults (mean age: 27.58 years; 39.6% females) completed a series of self-rating questionnaires covering sociodemographic information, past and current NSSIs, suicide attempts, and current sleep patterns, including experiencing nightmares. Past NSSIs predicted current NSSIs. Current sleep patterns had a modest impact on the association between past and current NSSIs. Compared to male participants, female participants did not report more sleep complaints or more current NSSIs, but more past NSSIs. Past NSSIs predicted the occurrences of nightmares and suicide attempts. The best predictor of current NSSI was the remembered past NSSI, while current poor sleep was only modestly associated with current NSSI. Further indicators of current NSSI and poor sleep were suicide attempts and nightmares within the last six months. Overall, it appears that poor emotion regulation should be considered as underlying factor to trigger and maintain non-suicidal self-injury-related behavior and poor sleep. Further, unlike previous studies, which focused on the possible influence of sleep patterns on NSSIs, the aim of the present study paradigm was to investigate NSSIs on sleep patterns.

A Study on the Factors Influencing Users’ Online Knowledge Paying-Behavior Based on the UTAUT Model

With the explosive growth of information and the increase of people’s fragmented time, the knowledge payment industry’s market size is growing. However, the heterogeneity between online knowledge payment behavior and traditional consumption gradually comes to the fore. It is of great practical significance to analyze the factors influencing users’ online knowledge payment behavior and clarify users’ online knowledge payment mechanism. Based on UTAUT theory, this study uses statistics, structural equation modeling, and mediating effect analysis to construct a theoretical model of the influencing factors of users’ payment behavior of knowledge payment platform from the user level, knowledge-provider level, and platform level. The findings show that content quality, peer influence, KOL influence, perceived interaction, effort expectation, and perceived trust significantly affect users’ willingness-to-pay and have an indirect effect on users’ paying behavior through their willingness-to-pay. Perceived cost, perceived interaction, content quality, peer influence, performance expectation, and effort expectation directly and significantly affect user paying behavior. By regulating the above elements, the improvement of customer attraction ability of online knowledge platforms can be realized.