Key result
Individuals with a history of non-suicidal self-injury exhibited significantly higher dynamic complexity in positive affect (d = 0.77) compared to clinical controls.
Why the study?
While negative emotions in non-suicidal self-injury have been extensively explored, few studies have focused on positive emotions.
Does dynamic complexity of positive and negative affect differ between individuals with and without a history of NSSI?
Observational (n=61)
No
Does dynamic complexity of positive and negative affect differ between individuals with and without a history of NSSI?
Standardized Mean Difference: 0.77 (95% CI 0.23–1.3)
p-value: p=0.006
Individuals with a history of NSSI exhibit higher dynamic complexity in affect and more positive affect compared to controls, highlighting the importance of assessing dynamic emotional patterns.
Greater dynamic complexity in positive affect among those with NSSI history warrants exploration as a potential treatment target; leaves open whether it predicts behavior or guides intervention.
Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a major health problem. Functionally, it is related to affect instability and increased affective intensity. The role of negative emotions has already been extensively explored, only few studies have focused on positive emotions. The concept of dynamic complexity (DC) is particularly well suited to differentially analyze the dynamics of affect collected by ecological momentary assessment (EMA). This study examines DC of positive and negative emotions in individuals with and without NSSI history in an EMA setting. Method: = 5.80). DC was calculated for the assessed time-series of daily affect. Additionally, we fitted a linear mixed model to predict positive and negative dynamic complexity with length of stay and group. Results: Compared to controls, individuals with a history of NSSI showed significantly more positive affect and had significantly higher DC in affect in general. No significant difference for negative affect was found. Conclusion: Our results suggest that it is important to assess dynamic emotional patterns and to analyze in detail the role of positive and negative affect in individuals with NSSI in order to better understand the complex interplay between the different emotional states and to be able to use it for diagnostic purposes and clinical interventions.
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Bruckbauer-Schwed et al. (2025) conducted an observational in Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) (n=61). History of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) vs. Clinical controls without NSSI history was evaluated on Peak dynamic complexity of positive affect (d = 0.77, 95% CI 0.23, 1.30, p=0.006). Individuals with a history of non-suicidal self-injury exhibited significantly higher dynamic complexity in positive affect (d = 0.77) compared to clinical controls.
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