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Keywords:

Social Sciences, Psychology, Developmental, Psychology, Identity, Commitment, Exploration, Non-suicidal self-injury, EXPLORATION, MODEL, ADOLESCENTS, VALIDATION, COMMITMENT, DYNAMICS, CONTEXT, Adolescent, Anxiety, Cluster Analysis, Comorbidity, Depression, Female, Humans, Male, Personality, Personality Inventory, Reinforcement, Psychology, Schools, Self Concept, Self-Injurious Behavior, Social Identification, Students, Surveys and Questionnaires, 1701 Psychology, Developmental & Child Psychology, 5201 Applied and developmental psychology, 5203 Clinical and health psychology, 5205 Social and personality psychology

Abstract:

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to the direct, deliberate destruction of one's body tissue without suicidal intent. Research has highlighted the importance of identity synthesis versus confusion for NSSI. However, the association with identity processes and statuses remains unknown. A total of 568 adolescents reported on NSSI, identity, anxiety, and depression. Although identity processes of identification with commitment (negatively) and ruminative exploration (positively) were related to NSSI variables, these relationships were no longer significant when controlling for anxiety and depression. When examining identity statuses (using cluster analysis), individuals who had engaged in NSSI in the past (but not currently) were more likely to be in the moratorium cluster and less likely to be in the achievement cluster. Individuals who were currently engaging in NSSI were more likely to be in the troubled diffusion cluster. Clinicians should be attentive to the complex interplay between identity and NSSI when treating adolescents.