Awe reduces Chinese adolescents' NSSI urges: The chain-mediating role of meaning in life and ego-depletion, and the moderating role of family function

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a severe psychological crisis among Chinese adolescents, while NSSI urge is a robust predictor of NSSI. Awe, as a positive emotion, may benefit the prevention of NSSI. However, the relationship between awe and NSSI urges is underexplored. This study examined the effect of awe on NSSI urges and its underlying mechanisms among a large sample of Chinese adolescents with a three-wave panel design (with distinct but related constructs measured at each wave). Participants were 969 middle school students from eastern China. The chain mediation model suggested that awe reduces NSSI urges indirectly by sequentially enhancing meaning in life and decreasing ego-depletion. Family function moderated this model, such that the negative predictive effect of awe and the positive predictive effect of ego-depletion on later NSSI urges were stronger when family functioning was low. These findings provide a novel perspective for interventions on adolescents' NSSI urges by highlighting the enhancement of awe, as well as the roles of meaning in life, ego-depletion, and family function.