A meta-analysis on the affect regulation function of real-time self-injurious thoughts and behaviours
Apr 1, 2022Β·
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0 min read
Kevin Kuehn

Jonas Dora
Melanie Harned
Katherine Foster
Frank Song
Michele Smith
Kevin King
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 Nβ=β1,644 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 (kβ=β14, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.31) and suicidal thoughts (kβ=β14, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.19). For consequence models, negative affect was reduced following nonsuicidal self-injurious thoughts (kβ=β6, 95% CI β0.79 to β0.44), nonsuicidal self-injurious behaviours (kβ=β14, 95% CI β0.73 to β0.19) and suicidal thoughts (kβ=β13, 95% CI β0.79 to β0.23). 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