Post-pandemic shocks and non-suicidal self-injury risk in working-age adults: differential pathways via psychological distress and social support

During the post COVID 19 transition, psychological challenges have shifted from short term reactions to enduring psychosocial strain that depletes individual coping resources and fosters maladaptive responses, with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) showing a sharp rise in prevalence. Despite its clinical severity and links to suicide risk, research on NSSI in the context of large scale public health emergencies remains limited, particularly among working-age adults who are especially vulnerable to pandemic related disruptions. Data were collected via a nationwide online survey of 1,901 Chinese adults between January and March 2023. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling was employed to test associations among post-pandemic shocks(Objective resource loss and Subjective resource threat), psychological distress, perceived social support, and NSSI risk. Objective resource loss is associated with NSSI risk both directly and indirectly through psychological distress; Subjective resource threat influences NSSI risk primarily through a full mediation path via psychological distress; perceived social support (PSS) serves as a dual buffer, directly mitigating the impact of objective resource loss on NSSI and moderating the relationship between psychological distress and NSSI in the subjective threat pathway. Post-pandemic shocks were related to NSSI risk through distinct pathways. Visible losses were linked to more immediate risk, whereas perceived threats were linked to risk primarily through psychological distress. Early distress screening and strengthened social support may help reduce NSSI risk among working-age adults.