The mediating role of emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents

Abstract

Aims: The aim of the present study was to investigate the mediating role of emotion regulation and intolerance of uncertainty (IU) in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. Materials and Methods: In this descriptive correlational study, 700 high school students studying in 2018–2019 from Kashmar were selected by multistage cluster sampling. The final analysis was performed on the 292 students who have at least once engaged in NSSI. Research tools include Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory, Child Abuse of Self-Report Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale, and Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale. Data were analyzed by structural equation modeling. Results: The findings showed that emotion regulation and IU mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and NSSI. Conclusions: The findings confirmed the mediating role of emotion regulation and IU in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and NSSI. As a result, it is crucial that specialists and therapists take these variables into account when dealing with adolescent students in counseling and treatment centers.