Citation

Gray N, Hasking P, Boyes M. J. Clin. Psychol. (Hoboken) 2022; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1002/jclp.23336

PMID

35246984

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Due to cognitive and emotional differences between individuals who have and have not stopped self-injuring, we explored these in the context of desire to stop.

METHOD: Australian university students (n = 374) completed cognitive and emotional measures. Comparisons were made between those who had self-injured in the past 12 months and those who had not, and between individuals who reported wanting to stop self-injuring and those who did not.

RESULTS: Approximately 20% of participants did not want to stop self-injuring. Cognitive emotional factors (psychological distress, self-efficacy to resist, difficulties regulating emotion, interpersonal functions, and outcome expectancies) differentiated individuals who had and had not stopped, but could not explain differences in desire to stop.

CONCLUSION: Factors associated with desire to stop are not the same as factors underlying behavioural cessation. Motivational approaches to changes in self-injurious behaviour would be beneficial for clinicians and their clients.

Language: en

Keywords

behaviour; cessation; ambivalence; intention; nonsuicidal self-injury