Behavioral inhibition/approach systems and adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury: The chain mediating effects of difficulty in emotion regulation and depression

• Published in: Personality and individual differences 2021-06, Vol.175, p.110718, Article 110718
• Main Authors: Wu, Ruyun, Huang, Jiyi, Ying, Jiefeng, Gao, Qianqian, Guo, Jiaqi, You, Jianing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation; Adolescence; Behavior; Behavior activation system; Behavior inhibition system; Depression; Difficulty in emotion regulation; Emotional regulation; Inhibition; Mental depression; Nonsuicidal self-injury; Reinforcement; Responsiveness; Risk factors; Self destructive behavior; Self injury; Self report
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2021.110718

Previous research on Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory has tentatively established the associations between behavioral inhibition/activation systems (BIS/BAS) and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), but the effects of BAS subcomponents (i.e. BAS-Fun Seeking, BAS-Reward Responsiveness, and BAS-Drive) on NSSI and the potential mediation mechanisms of these associations remain unclear. The present study tested a chain mediating model to examine the effects of BIS and BAS subcomponents on NSSI, as well as the mediating roles of difficulty in emotion regulation (DER) and depression. A total of 1724 Chinese adolescents (39.8% males; mean age = 15.21 years, SD = 1.57) completed self-report measures of BIS/BAS, DER, depression, and NSSI. After controlling for gender, BIS, BAS-Fun Seeking and BAS-Drive demonstrated positive associations and BAS-Reward Responsiveness demonstrated a negative association with NSSI. The results also showed a positive effect of DER on depression. DER and depression, independently and in sequence, mediated the relations between BIS/BAS-Fun Seeking/BAS-Reward Responsiveness and NSSI to different degrees. These findings contribute to a more comprehensive understanding of the risk factors for self-injury. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed. •Behavior inhibition system showed a positive and indirect association with nonsuicidal self-injury.•Fun seeking and drive showed positive associations with nonsuicidal self-injury.•Reward responsiveness showed a negative association with nonsuicidal self-injury.•Difficulty in emotion regulation and depression acted as mediators between behavioral inhibition/activation system and NSSI.