Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Sara Lowmaster
Abstract
Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is present among a range of personality disorders (PDs) and, though distinct from suicide (Whitlock et al., 2015). Individuals who engage in NSSI and/or suicidal behavior, tend to have similar symptomology consistent with PDs, like rumination (Bowen et al., 2019), impulsivity (Hamza et al., 2015), and greater sensitivity and emotional reactivity within social situations (Selby et al., 2012). Similarly, maladaptive personality traits have shown to positively relate to NSSI and suicide (Jimenez-Treviño et al., 2011; Turner et al., 2018). Yet, research also indicates that NSSI is a heterogenous behavior that varies in severity related to frequency, age of onset, number of methods used, and engagement in suicidal behavior (Barrocas et al., 2015; Hamza & Willoghby, 2013; Klonsky & Olino, 2008; Herres et al., 2017). This study assessed for various subgroups of NSSI and examine whether suicidal behavior and the Alternative Model of Personality Disorder’s (AMPD) differentiate between subgroups. There was a total of 244 participants between the ages of 18-24, from SONA, Reddit, and Prolific with a history of NSSI. Participants completed an online Qualtrics survey. The battery consisted of: Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors Interview Short Form (Nock et al., 2007), Inventory of Statements about Self-Injury (Klonsky, 2007), Level of Personality Functioning Scale-SR (Morey, 2017), and Personality Inventory for the DSM-5—Short Form (Maples et al., 2015). Latent class analysis based on methods, characteristics, and functions of NSSI, were conducted. Three classes were determined to be the best fit for the data. The groups were compared using a MANOVA regarding suicidal behavior and the AMPD Criterion A and B. Result indicated that there were three distinct groups of NSSI behavior, a mild/experimental, a moderate NSSI group, and a severe NSSI group. There were significant differences among suicidal behavior and the AMPD across the three groups. The results of this study can allow for a more comprehensive understanding of NSSI and how various constellation of NSSI characteristics are associated with increased risk of suicidal behaviors and personality pathology.
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology
Keywords
Alternative Model of Personality Disorder, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, NSSI, Self-harm, Suicide
Number of Pages
124
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Chavin, Rachel, "DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY PATHOLOGY AMONG NON-SUICIDAL SELF- INJURY AND SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR PATTERNS: A LATENT CLASS ANALYSIS" (2024). Dissertations and Theses. 234.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/234