The Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation in the Correlation Between Attachment Styles and Childhood Trauma With Self-Harming Behaviors in Adolescents

Abstract

Background: Self-harming behaviors are significantly associated with difficulty in emotion regulation. Attachment styles and childhood trauma increase the frequency and intensity of self-harming behaviors through disrupting emotion regulation. Objectives: The present study aimed to evaluate the mediating role of difficulties in emotion regulation in the correlation between attachment styles and childhood trauma with self-harming behaviors in adolescents. Methods: The sample population included adolescents aged 15-18 years in Kermanshah, Iran in 2019. In total, 400 participants were selected via random sampling. Data were collected using instruments of difficulties in emotion regulation scale (DERS), adult attachment questionnaire (AAQ), and childhood trauma questionnaire (CTQ). In addition, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to evaluate the proposed model. Data analysis was performed in SPSS version 24 and AMOS version 23. Results: The proposed model had a good fit. Attachment styles with the mediation of difficulties in emotion regulation (β = 0.174) and childhood trauma with the mediation of difficulties in emotion regulation (β = 0.111) had an indirect, significant correlation with self-harming behaviors (P < 0.05). Conclusions: According to the results, attachment styles and childhood trauma affected self-harming behaviors through difficulties in emotion regulation. Therefore, their impact on self-harming behaviors could be reduced by improving emotion regulation in adolescents.