The mediating role of emotion regulation difficulty, interpersonal problems, and self-punishment in relation to nonsuicidal self-injury and suicide

The aim of the present study was to determine the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulty, interpersonal problems, and self-punishment (self-criticism) in the relationship between non-suicidal self-injury and suicide. The available sampling method was used to recruit 300 female adolescents. They completed six self-report instruments: The Inventory of Statements of Self-Injury, Beck Scale for Suicidal Ideation, The Suicidal Behaviors Questionnaire-Revised, Difficulties with Emotion Regulation Scale, Questionnaire about Interpersonal Difficulties for Adolescents, and Forms of Self-Criticizing/Attacking and Self-Reassuring Scale. Structural equation modelling revealed that the direct effect of non-suicidal self-injury on suicide is significant. The indirect effect of self-injury on suicide through emotion regulation difficulty was not significant. The indirect effect of self-injury on suicide through interpersonal problems was not significant. The indirect effect of self-injury on suicide through self-punishment was significant. It seems that self-punishment can be a predictor of suicide in self-injurers. Despite the significant relationship between self-injury and suicide, emotion regulation difficulty, and interpersonal problems; and the lack of significance of the mediating role of emotion regulation difficulty and interpersonal problems in predicting suicide, it seems that emotion regulation difficulty and interpersonal problems cannot lead self-injury to suicide. Interventions to reduce self-punishment will be useful to prevent non-suicidal self-injury and suicide.