Citation

Emery AA, Heath NL, Mills DJ. Arch. Suicide Res. 2016; 21(3): 413-424.

Affiliation

Department of Educational and Counselling Psychology , McGill University , Montreal , QC.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, International Academy of Suicide Research, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/13811118.2016.1211043

PMID

27439328

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The present study applied self-determination theory to examine the onset, maintenance, and cessation of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. Specifically, the study examined the relationship between the basic psychological needs of autonomy, competence, and relatedness, and NSSI status.

METHODS: Participants were classified into the NSSI Maintain (n = 30), NSSI Start (n = 44), NSSI Stop (n = 21), or Control (n = 98) groups based on NSSI status over two time points within a 12-month period. Repeated measures multiple analysis of variance was employed.

RESULTS: Satisfaction of the need for competence decreased over time in all adolescents. Adolescents who maintained NSSI behaviour reported significantly lower levels of need satisfaction compared to adolescents reporting no history of NSSI engagement, and adolescents who began NSSI over the course of the study reported significantly lower levels of need satisfaction compared to those reporting no history of NSSI engagement.

CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that need satisfaction varies as a function of NSSI status.

Language: en