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

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the direct and deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent. This prevalent behavior can have physical, psychological, and social consequences.

This study aimed to explain NSSI in adolescents based on Hooley’s negative self-association model.

The sample consisted of 223 high school students in public schools in Tehran province, of whom 63 were self-injured and 160 were non-self-injured. The subjects were selected by purposive sampling. The data were gathered using the Deliberate Self-harm Inventory (DSHI), Forms of Self-criticism/Attacking and Self-reassuring Scale (FSCRS), Emotional Avoidance Strategy Inventory for Adolescents (EASI-A), Self-punishment Scale (SPS), Self-injury Implicit Association Test (SI-IAT), and General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Data analysis was performed based on structural equation modeling (SEM) using the statistical software IBM SPSS AMOS v22.0.

The SEM indicated that among the goodness of fit indices, CFI, TLI, and RMSEA were in the desired range. Negative self-association played a central role in NSSI attempts. There was a significant relationship (P < 0.05) between self-punishment and self-injury. Negative associations made people more inclined to avoid negative emotions, but no significant relationship was found with NSSI. However, the path of negative self-association and its relationship with accessibility to and identification with self-injury and attempt to NSSI did not have enough significance and led to a decrease in the model’s fit.

Consistent with the findings of research conducted in the field of self-injury, this study showed that negative self-associations play a central role in attempting NSSI. The results of this study provide a new guideline for designing prevention and treatment programs for self-injuring behavior.