The Roles of Affect Dysregulation and Positive Affect in Non-Suicidal Self-Injury

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent behavior, yet little is known about associated affective mechanisms. Research has focused on the role of negative affect in NSSI, with positive affect receiving relatively less attention. This study examined affect dysregulation, emotional reactivity, and the experience of positive and negative affect in NSSI. Path analyses revealed that emotional reactivity predicted positive and negative affect after NSSI. Positive affect, in turn, predicted more lifetime acts of NSSI. The results demonstrate the importance of examining multiple facets of affect regulation, as well as the roles of both negative and positive affect in NSSI.