Child Maltreatment and Deliberate Self-Harm: A Negative Binomial Hurdle Model for Explanatory Constructs

    Authors

    A. M. Arens; R. M. Gaher; J. S. Simons;R. D. Dvorak

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Child Maltreatment

    Keywords

    child maltreatment; health risk behavior; structural equation modeling; COLLEGE-STUDENTS; NEUROENDOCRINE ACTIVITY; EMOTION DYSREGULATION; CORPORAL PUNISHMENT; DISTRESS TOLERANCE; SEXUAL-ABUSE; RISK-FACTORS; BEHAVIOR; IMPULSIVITY; DEPRESSION; Family Studies; Social Work

    Abstract

    Emerging adults demonstrate the highest rates of deliberate self-harm (DSH) and thus represent a population in need of further study. While child maltreatment (CM) history is a risk factor for DSH, the mechanisms behind this relationship are not fully understood. This study tested a model of mechanisms linking CM with DSH (likelihood of engaging in the behavior and frequency among those who self-harm) via negative urgency (tendency to engage in impulsive behaviors under conditions of negative affect), distress tolerance, sense of control, and desire for control in a sample of college students. As hypothesized, CM had a strong positive direct association with both the likelihood and frequency of DSH. CM was positively associated with negative urgency and inversely associated with distress tolerance and sense of control. Negative urgency was positively associated with DSH likelihood and frequency. Distress tolerance was not directly associated with DSH but was indirectly associated with DSH likelihood and frequency via negative urgency. Sense of control was not associated with the likelihood of engaging in DSH; however, among those who endorsed a history of DSH, sense of control was positively associated with DSH frequency. Desire for control was not associated with either CM or DSH.

    Journal Title

    Child Maltreatment

    Volume

    19

    Issue/Number

    3-4

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    168

    Last Page

    177

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000345589600004

    ISSN

    1077-5595

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