Influence of Romantic Attachment and Intimate Partner Violence on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Young Adults

• NCJ Number: 231029
• Journal: Journal of Youth and Adolescence Volume: 39 Issue: 5 Dated: May 2010 Pages: 474-483
• Author(s): Christine Levesque; Marie-France Lafontaine; Jean-Francois Bureau; Paula Cloutier; Cathy Dandurand
• Date Published: May 2010
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Research (Applied/Empirical)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Special Issue: The Place of Self-Harm in Adolescent Development, Part III, for related articles see NCJ-231027-28 and NCJ-231030-36.

Annotation

This study examined the role of romantic attachment and the experience of intimate partner violence (physical, psychological, and sexual) on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in young adults.

Abstract

Several theoretical models for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) have been proposed. Despite an abundance of theoretical speculation, few empirical studies have examined the impact of intimate relationship functioning on NSSI. The present study examines the influence of romantic attachment and received intimate partner violence (physical, psychological and sexual) on recent reports of NSSI behaviors and thoughts. The sample was composed of 537 (79.9 percent female) primarily Caucasian university students between the ages of 18 and 25 years and currently involved in a romantic relationship. The results reveal that anxiety over abandonment was a significant predictor of NSSI thoughts and behaviors in women and a significant predictor of NSSI thoughts in men. Moreover, the experience of intimate partner violence emerged as a significant predictor of NSSI behaviors in both men and women. Continued empirical investigations into the influence of intimate relationship functioning on NSSI will facilitate the development of psychological interventions for young adults dealing with self-harm. Tables and references (Published Abstract)