Changes in Ecological Momentary Assessment Reported Affect Associated With Episodes of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Although emotion regulation deficits have been frequently implicated in the incidence of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior (NSSI), no research to date has examined in vivo change of affect associated with real-world NSSI behavior. The present study employed Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) to assess change in affect associated with episodes of experienced NSSI in a sample of 36 college students with a self-reported history of NSSI. Results indicated that individuals who reported NSSI behavior over the course of the study experienced increases in negative affect prior to an episode of NSSI that peaked during the episode and faded gradually in the hours following the episode, with affect change roughly approximating a quadratic curve. These changes in affect were detected only at times in which individuals engaged in NSSI and were absent for individuals who did not report NSSI over the course of the study. Moreover, changes in negative affect associated with NSSI were, on average, detectable hours prior to the NSSI event. These findings suggest that episodes of NSSI may be predicted through a careful examination of affect change long before actual NSSI behavior occurs.

► We use EMA to explore the emotions of self-injuring college students.
► Momentary affect was sampled over the course of one week.
► We hypothesized that changes in negative affect would approximate a quadratic curve.
► We hypothesized that this pattern would appear only for individuals endorsing NSSI.
► Findings supported our hypotheses.