A meta-analysis on the affect regulation function of real-time self-injurious thoughts and behaviours

Apr 1, 2022Β·
Kevin Kuehn
Jonas Dora
Jonas Dora
,
Melanie Harned
,
Katherine Foster
,
Frank Song
,
Michele Smith
,
Kevin King
Β· 0 min read
Abstract
Prominent theories suggest that self-injurious thoughts and behaviours are negatively reinforced by decreased negative affect. The present meta-analysis quantifies effects from intensive longitudinal studies measuring negative affect and self-injurious thoughts and behaviours. We obtained data from 38 of the 79 studies (48%, 22 unique datasets) involving N = 1,644 participants (80% female, 75% white). Individual-participant data meta-analyses revealed changes in affect pre/post self-injurious thoughts and behaviours. In antecedent models, results supported increased negative affect before nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviour (k = 14, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.31) and suicidal thoughts (k = 14, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.19). For consequence models, negative affect was reduced following nonsuicidal self-injurious thoughts (k = 6, 95% CI βˆ’0.79 to βˆ’0.44), nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviours (k = 14, 95% CI βˆ’0.73 to βˆ’0.19) and suicidal thoughts (k = 13, 95% CI βˆ’0.79 to βˆ’0.23). Findings, which were not moderated by sampling strategies or sample composition, support the affect regulation function of self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.
Type
Publication
In Nature Human Behaviour