Child abuse and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese university students: the role of emotion dysregulation and attachment style

Abstract

Although non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a worldwide public health concern, the prevalence rate and risk factors for it among Chinese university students are not known. The present study aimed to address these knowledge gaps and examine the interrelationship between child abuse and NSSI frequency and functions as well as psychiatric co-morbidity with emotion dysregulation as a mediator and attachment style as a moderator. Five hundred and thirty-six (F = 359, M = 177) Chinese university students were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong and completed the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and General Health Questionnaire–28. The findings showed that the prevalent rate of NSSI was 22% in the past year. The results showed that child abuse was significantly correlated with psychiatric co-morbidity and emotion dysregulation, and the latter was also significantly correlated with positive and negative reinforcement, and psychiatric co-morbidity. Moderation effects were not established. Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour was relatively common among Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Their difficulties in regulating their emotions may influence why they hurt themselves and the severity of psychological distress, especially for those who experienced a high level of child abuse in the past.