Examines how childhood maltreatment, stress, and alexithymia predict NSSI differently in males and females, suggesting tailored interventions are vital.
Key Points
The study aims to explore the unique contributions of childhood maltreatment, stress, and alexithymia to nonsuicidal self-injury with a focus on sex differences.
Analyzed data from 731 young adults in Korea, including 481 with NSSI and 250 controls.
Conducted logistic and multiple regression analyses to assess predictors of NSSI separately for males and females.
Evaluated factors such as childhood maltreatment, current stress levels, and emotional processing difficulties (alexithymia).
In males, physical abuse was a significant predictor of NSSI engagement; current stress was linked to greater method versatility.
In females, emotional abuse, current stress, and alexithymia were key predictors for engaging in NSSI; while sexual abuse and physical neglect predicted greater severity.
Identified distinct pathways for each sex, emphasizing the need for targeted intervention strategies.