Citation

Muehlenkamp JJ, Brausch AM. J. Adolesc. 2012; 35(1): 1-9.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 105 Garfield Ave, PO Box 4004, Eau Claire, WI 54702-4004, USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2012, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.adolescence.2011.06.010

PMID

21777971

Abstract

Attitudes towards the body have been largely overlooked as a potential risk factor for adolescent non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) despite theorizing that a negative body image may play a critical role in the development of this behavior. The current study used structural equation modeling to evaluate the fit of a theoretical model specifying body image as a mediator between negative affect and NSSI in a combined clinical and non-clinical sample of 284 adolescents. The data supported the model, accounted for 21.6% of the variance in NSSI, and body image significantly mediated the relationship between negative affect and NSSI. These findings provide essential preliminary evidence that body image may represent a necessary but not sufficient risk factor for NSSI in adolescents and that treatment for NSSI should consider targeting body-related pathology in addition to emotion regulation. The findings also support including body image within developing etiological models of NSSI.

Language: en