Low self-perceived resilience mediates the link between limited access to emotion regulation strategies and non-suicidal self-injury

Having limited access to effective emotion regulation (ER) strategies, a construct commonly measured using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS; Gratz & Roemer, 2004), has been found to be strongly linked with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the mechanisms that explain this association need more in-depth exploration. In this study, we investigated whether a cognitive mechanism (low self-perceived resilience) and/or a behavioral mechanism (insufficient repertoire of strategies used to resist NSSI) explained the association between limited access to ER strategies and the likelihood of recent (past-month) NSSI. Research questions were explored in a sample of 922 university students with a lifetime NSSI history (83.3% female). Study variables were measured using self-report questionnaires. Controlling for anxiety/depression, a path analytic model revealed that only low self-perceived resilience mediated the association between limited access to ER strategies and past-month NSSI. Participants who endorsed having limited access to ER strategies unexpectedly reported a higher number of coping strategies to resist NSSI. The results support the relevance of exploring resiliency beliefs in the association between ER capability and NSSI.