Structural Validity of Negative Self-association Model in Attempting Nonsuicidal Self-injury

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is often seen as superficial and frequent incisions on body tissue with a sharp object (razor, scissors, needle, knife, nail clipper, etc.). Among people who engaged in NSSI, 70% reported skin-cutting (1), around 21% to 44% hitting oneself, and 15% to 35% skin burns (2). Nonsuicidal self-injury has been defined as the intentional destruction of body tissue without suicidal intent (3). Self-harm usually manifests itself in adolescence, and there is no difference in prevalence between genders, races, and economic situations (4, 5). A comprehensive study identified self-harm as a major problem among adolescents worldwide (6, 7).

Numerous models have been proposed to explain the onset and persistence of self-injury. Therapies based on these models have failed to provide empirical support for self-injury therapy (8, 9). Other evidence suggests that some mechanisms are not included in these models while they may play an important role in self-injury (10). One of the new models in explaining the causes of self-injury is the negative self-association model proposed by Hooley and St. Germain (11). In this model (Figure 1), to create a new conceptual approach, empirically supported mechanisms have been combined with new mechanisms in previous models (10).

Figure 1.

Negative self-association model and nonsuicidal self-injury

To better understand NSSI, it is essential to examine it in a cultural context. A study of NSSI in Iran may reveal its different patterns. Therefore, in the present study, a model examined the role of negative self-association, avoidance of negative feelings, self-punishment beliefs, implicit association, and identification in the formation of NSSI in adolescents (Figure 1). This study was conducted to investigate the structural validity of the negative self-association model. The current study hypothesized that negative self-association is correlated with NSSI, the desire to escape unpleasant feelings, the belief that one deserves pain and punishment, and greater accessibility to thoughts and identification with self-injury.

This is a cross-sectional descriptive study. The statistical population included students living in Tehran province in 2019 - 2020. Inclusion criteria required the clinical sample to have (1) a history of NSSI not due to street fighting (interview); (2) age 13 to 18 years; and (3) Persian literacy. Inclusion criteria required the comparison group to have (1) 13 to 18 years old and (2) the ability to read and write Persian. Exclusion criteria required the clinical sample to (1) be dissatisfied with the study and (2) have the presence of psychosis (through a clinical interview). The exclusion criteria required the comparison group to be dissatisfied with the study participation.

3.2. Instruments

The study measures included (1) the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI) (12); (2) the Forms of Self-criticism/Attacking and Self-reassuring Scale (FSCRS) (13); (3) the Emotional Avoidance Strategy Inventory for Adolescents (EASI-A) (14); (4) state Punishment Scale (SPS); (5) self-injury Implicit Association Test (SI-IAT) (15) (as shown in Figure 2, at each stage of the test, the categories are displayed on both sides of the screen and the subject’s reaction time in the combined steps is the basis for judging the test result); and (6) general Health Questionnaire (GHQ) (16).

Figure 2.

An example of performing Self-injury Implicit Association Test

In the current study, data analysis and modeling were performed based on structural equation modeling (SEM) using the statistical software IBM SPSS AMOS v24.0. This study performed a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) to test the measurement model and the constructs of the SPS and EASI-A. A P-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

First, the demographic characteristics of the participants are examined. Table 1 shows the age, sex, and status of the participants.

As seen in Table 1, about 25% of the subjects were 16 years old, and 8.5% were 13 years old. Regarding sex distribution, more than half of the participants (51.6%) were girls. Also, 52% of self-harm individuals were girls.

In Figure 3, the numbers shown on the paths are standardized coefficients. The standardized coefficients are the same as the model coefficients that have been transferred to the range of -1 to 1, so it is possible to compare them for different variables.

Figure 3.

Measurement model after modifying

Measurement model results (standardized coefficient, standard deviation, and P-value) are shown in Table 2.

As can be seen from Table 3, all indices are in the good range. Therefore, the goodness of the measurement model is confirmed.

According to the results of the model (Figure 4), P-value is significant (P < 0.05) for all coefficients of the observed variables, and therefore all these coefficients are significant.

Figure 4.

Structural model of the research

In Table 4, the path between the hidden variables in the structural model is presented.

Fit indices for the structural model are presented in Table 5. All indices are in the good range. Therefore, the goodness of the structural model is confirmed.

This study aimed to explain NSSI in adolescents based on Hooley’s negative self-association model. This study showed a positive relationship between negative self-association and attempting NSSI. This finding agrees with the findings of Suneja (17), Glassman, et al. (18), and Gilbert et al. (19). According to the proposed model by Hooley and Franklin (10), people who have a negative relationship with themselves and engage in extreme self-criticism are more likely to be exposed to self-injurious behaviors (10).

The present study revealed a positive relationship between the negative self-association model and the tendency to avoid unpleasant emotions. This finding is compatible with the findings of Rosenthal et al. (20). Negative relationship with oneself creates a state in a person who wants to escape from unpleasant feelings. Avoiding unpleasant emotions reduces pain, fear, tension, and anxiety and ultimately reinforces escape and avoidance behaviors (21).

This study showed a positive relationship between the negative self-association model and creating the belief that a person deserves pain and punishment. This finding is consistent with the findings of Gratz (12) and Gratz and Roemer (22). When something unpleasant happens, the person feels he is personally responsible for it and ignores all the external factors that cause it. In these cases, instead of saying, “This is the wrong way to do it”, and “Next time I will try another method”, he says, “I am weak, helpless, and incompetent”. In this way, the person does not focus on the behavior that has been problematic and what he or she can do to correct it (23).

The current study showed no significant relationship between the negative self-association model and greater access to NSSI thoughts. This finding is inconsistent with Smith et al. (24). People with negative self-association set high standards for themselves that if they are not met, they blame themselves. Self-blame individuals also appear skeptical of their actions, react negatively to perceived failures, and strongly blame themselves (24).

The present study demonstrated no significant relationship between the tendency to avoid negative emotions and attempting NSSI. This finding aligns with Anderson and Crowther (25) and Kingston et al. (21). The tendency to avoid negative emotions over time in people’s lives causes a defect in adapting to stressful situations. This means that the person avoids a situation or action to reduce their anxiety, which in the long run causes stress and anxiety (21).

This study suggested a positive relationship between the belief that a person deserves pain and punishment and attempting NSSI. This is consistent with Schoenleber et al. (26), Klonsky and Muehlenkamp (27), and Hooley et al. (28). People with a history of self-harm negatively evaluate their past and ability to act in the future and always consider self-criticism and expectation of failure in the outcome of things (26).

The current study indicated no significant relationship between greater accessibility to thoughts and mental associations with NSSI. This pattern is in agreement with previous studies on SI-IAT (29). Based on the cognitive view, the essence of learning and intelligence, in general, is the ability to represent different aspects of the world in his mind and then operate on these mental representations instead of the outside world. Also, according to the theory of the human mind, it is evoked by internal mental states such as beliefs, desires, or intentions. In fact, it can be noted that a person’s thoughts and mental associations can significantly impact his behavior and actions (30).

The current study is limited in that data were self-reported and cross-sectional, preventing the examination of causal hypotheses. This research was conducted on students, so the generalization of its results to other sections of society and people in other regions should be made with caution. It is suggested that to validate the findings of the present study, further research be done on students in other cities, variables be examined with a comparative approach in different samples, and more research be conducted on the translation and ambiguity of the questionnaire questions used in this dissertation.