Self-criticism is a real-time predictor of non-suicidal self-injury and disordered eating: An ecological momentary assessment study among treatment-seeking individuals.
Christina L Robillard, Laurence Claes, Sarah E Victor, Inez Myin-Germeys, Glenn Kiekens
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background: Although theory and research implicate self-criticism as a risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the nature of this association in daily life remains unclear. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to address whether (1) trait and state self-criticism elevate the risk of NSSI, (2) state self-criticism predicts NSSI behavior in real-time via increased NSSI urge intensity, and (3) the risk pattern extends to disordered eating (DE; binge eating, purging, restrictive eating).
Methods: A total of 125 treatment-seeking individuals who self-injure (87.20 % female; Mage = 22.98, SD = 5.32) completed measures of trait self-criticism at intake, followed by six daily assessments for 28 days (15,098 assessments; median compliance = 78.6 %) measuring self-critical thoughts, NSSI, and DE. Multilevel vector autoregressive models were constructed within a dynamic structural equation modeling framework.
Results: Patients who reported higher mean state self-critical thoughts experienced more intense NSSI urges and an increased risk for NSSI behavior during treatment. Higher-than-usual self-critical thoughts predicted NSSI urge intensity and NSSI behavior within the following 2 h. NSSI urge intensity partially mediated the effect of self-critical thoughts on NSSI behavior. Trait self-criticism did not predict comorbid DE, but aggregated state self-critical thoughts were associated with binge and restrictive eating. The within-person risk pattern of self-criticism generally extended to DE, with full mediation via DE urges for purging and restrictive eating, but not binge eating.
Conclusions: Self-criticism is a real-time predictor of NSSI and comorbid DE. These findings underscore the relevance of monitoring self-criticism outside the therapy room, as it may be an important treatment target.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Affective Disorders publishes papers concerned with affective disorders in the widest sense: depression, mania, mood spectrum, emotions and personality, anxiety and stress. It is interdisciplinary and aims to bring together different approaches for a diverse readership. Top quality papers will be accepted dealing with any aspect of affective disorders, including neuroimaging, cognitive neurosciences, genetics, molecular biology, experimental and clinical neurosciences, pharmacology, neuroimmunoendocrinology, intervention and treatment trials.