Randomized trial examines emotional reactions to social media exclusion in individuals with NSSI and BPD, suggesting significant impacts on self-harm urges.
Key Points
The research aims to understand the immediate psychological effects of social media exclusion on individuals with non-suicidal self-injury and borderline personality disorder.
Utilized a smartphone platform (Socializapp) to simulate Instagram-like peer feedback for 7 days.
Participants included healthy controls, individuals with NSSI without BPD, and those with comorbid BPD and NSSI.
Employed linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models to analyze responses to manipulated peer feedback.
Perceived exclusion increased and perceived approval decreased from inclusion to full exclusion across groups.
Exclusion led to a threefold increase in the odds of reporting an NSSI urge, adjusting for borderline severity.
Negative affect rose while positive affect decreased during exclusion conditions.