Why Does Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Improve Mood? A Preliminary Test of Three Hypotheses

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 111-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathryn R. Fox ◽  
Kaitlyn E. Toole ◽  
Joseph C. Franklin ◽  
Jill M. Hooley
Keyword(s):  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Preliminary Test ◽  
Mood Change ◽  
Pain Condition ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Mood Repair ◽  
Shed Light ◽  
Nonsuicidal Self Injury

People who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) often state that it helps them feel better. We tested three hypotheses through which this mood modification might occur. Following a negative mood induction, adults reporting past year NSSI were randomized into a control (i.e., sitting alone quietly), mild distraction, or pain condition. All participants completed mood ratings at regular intervals. No mood repair occurred in the control condition. However, distraction improved mood both during and after the activity. Participants who self-administered pain reported no overall mood change, suggesting that contrary to popular NSSI theories, pain likely does not improve mood via distraction. However, as predicted, level of self-criticism moderated mood change during pain. Participants high on self-criticism felt significantly better during pain and participants low on self-criticism felt significantly worse during pain. Findings shed light on how NSSI improves mood by clarifying the circumstances under which different affect regulation processes may operate.

scholarly journals Experiencing Presence in a Gaming Activity Improves Mood After a Negative Mood Induction

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 1-22
Author(s):  
Stefan Weber ◽  
Fred W. Mast ◽  
David Weibel
Keyword(s):  
Computer Games ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Mood Repair ◽  
Mood Enhancement ◽  
Immersion Condition ◽  
Gaming Activity ◽  
Explicit Measures

Research suggests that immersion in computer games is beneficial for recovering from stress and improving mood. However, no study linked explicit measures of presence—individually experienced immersion—to mood enhancement. In the present experiment, immersion of a gaming activity was varied, and levels of presence and enjoyment were measured and connected to mood repair after a stress-induction. The participants (N = 77) played a game in virtual reality (VR; high immersion), on the desktop (medium immersion), or watched a recording of the game (low immersion). Positive emotions were enhanced in the high and medium, but not the low immersion condition. Presence was a significant predictor in the VR condition. Furthermore, an explanatory mediation analysis showed that enjoyment mediated the effect of presence on mood repair. These findings demonstrate positive effects of presence experiences in gaming. Strong presence in VR seems especially helpful for enhancing mood and building up positive emotional resources.

Perceptions of the Functions of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in a College Sample

Crisis ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (5) ◽  
pp. 338-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kristen L. Batejan ◽  
Lance P. Swenson ◽  
Stephanie M. Jarvi ◽  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
At Risk Students ◽  
College Campuses ◽  
Help Seeking Behaviors ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
History Of ◽  
Regulation Functions ◽  
Nonsuicidal Self Injury

Abstract. Background: Rates of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) are particularly high on college campuses. Commonly endorsed reasons for NSSI include interpersonal (e.g., seeking support) and intrapersonal (e.g., affect regulation) functions. Aims: This study compared college students with and without a history of NSSI on their views of NSSI functions in order to inform gatekeeper intervention/prevention programs targeting NSSI. Method: The Inventory of Statements About Self-Injury, which assessed NSSI behavior and functions of NSSI, was completed by 367 college students (73% female, 95% white). Results: Ninety-eight participants endorsed lifetime moderate/severe NSSI, 109 endorsed minor NSSI, and 160 denied any history of NSSI. Noninjuring participants' views of NSSI functions were compared with the views held by participants with histories of NSSI. The groups did not differ in their views of the relevance of intrapersonal functions, although noninjuring individuals appeared to stress some interpersonal factors (e.g., influence) slightly more than individuals with a history of NSSI did. Conclusion: These results suggest that college students generally hold similar perceptions of the functions of NSSI. Our findings suggest intervention/prevention efforts may consider broadening the selection of gatekeepers (e.g., peers with no history of NSSI) in schools and colleges to identify at-risk students and encourage help-seeking behaviors.

The affect-regulation function of nonsuicidal self-injury in eating-disordered patients: which affect states are regulated?

2010 ◽  
Vol 51 (4) ◽  
pp. 386-392 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence Claes ◽  
E. David Klonsky ◽  
Jennifer Muehlenkamp ◽  
Peter Kuppens ◽  
Walter Vandereycken
Keyword(s):  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Eating Disordered ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Regulation Function ◽  
Affect States ◽  
Nonsuicidal Self Injury

Straight to the Source: e-Communities for Nonsuicidal Self-Injury and the Emerging Case for Harm Reduction in the Treatment of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

2021 ◽  
pp. 216770262110493
Author(s):  
Emma G. Preston ◽  
Amy E. West
Keyword(s):  
Harm Reduction ◽  
Affect Regulation ◽  
Wound Care ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Recovery Processes ◽  
The United Kingdom ◽  
Self Injury ◽  
Current Article ◽  
Nonsuicidal Self Injury

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a prevalent phenomenon, yet no sufficiently effective treatment approach exists, leading researchers to consider how a reconceptualization of NSSI phenomenology may be necessary to optimize treatment. Multiple novel reconceptualizations seem to converge on the idea that NSSI provides certain benefits (e.g., affect regulation) that lead to nonlinear recovery processes in which cessation is not always possible. NSSI e-communities have also become increasingly studied given their popularity among those who self-injure, and they often contain harm-reduction content (e.g., wound care, safe cutting practices). The United Kingdom has approved harm reduction for NSSI treatment; however, its implementation remains uncommon. The current article integrates these novel and growing lines of research and theory and presents converging evidence for the inclusion of harm reduction in NSSI treatment approaches. Future directions and ethical considerations are discussed.

Gaze-fixation to happy faces predicts mood repair after a negative mood induction.

Emotion ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alvaro Sanchez ◽  
Carmelo Vazquez ◽  
Diego Gomez ◽  
Jutta Joormann
Keyword(s):  
Mood Induction ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Gaze Fixation ◽  
Mood Repair

scholarly journals El poder de los extravertidos: Evaluando la regulación de estados de ánimo positivos y negativos

2016 ◽  
Vol 32 (3) ◽  
pp. 710 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Hervás ◽  
Irene López-Gómez
Keyword(s):  
Positive Affect ◽  
Psychological Functioning ◽  
Mood Induction ◽  
Negative Mood ◽  
Positive Mood ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mood Regulation ◽  
Mood Repair ◽  
Happy Mood

<p>Extraversion is a personality trait which has been systematically related to positive affect and well-being. One of the mechanisms that may account for these positive outcomes is the ability to regulate the responses to positive, as well as negative, moods. Prior research has found that extraverts’ higher positive mood maintenance could explain their higher levels of positive affect. However, research exploring differences between extraverts and introverts in negative mood regulation has yielded mixed results. The aim of the current study was explore the role of different facets of mood regulation displayed by extraverts, ambiverts, and introverts. After been exposed to a sad vs. happy mood induction, participants underwent a mood regulation task. Extraverts and ambiverts exhibited higher positive mood regulation than introverts, but similar mood repair. Thus, this research highlights the importance of positive mood regulation in the psychological functioning of extraverts, and opens new conceptualizations for developing interventions for introverts to improve their positive mood regulation and, hence, overall positive affect and well-being.</p>

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