scholarly journals Open to interpretation? Inconsistent reporting of lifetime nonsuicidal self-injury across two common assessments

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kealagh Robinson ◽  
Marc Wilson

© 2020 american psychological association. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is typically assessed using either single-item questionnaires or checklists of common behaviors, but preliminary research suggests that checklists produce higher lifetime prevalence rates. In 2 preregistered studies (combined n = 1,364), we tested whether memory cueing afforded by behavioral checklists accounts for this discrepancy. Participants reported their lifetime NSSI history using both a single-item and a checklist, with presentation order randomized across participants. Nearly a third of participants reported inconsistent NSSI histories on the 2 assessments, with participants 1.57 times more likely to report an NSSI history on a checklist than on a single-item. Counter to the memory account, this discrepancy was evident even when participants completed the checklist first, suggesting that the increased prevalence estimates captured by checklists are unlikely to simply reflect memory facilitation. Across the 2 samples, 12.5% of participants would have been incorrectly screened out in 2-step assessments; these participants were more likely to have engaged in NSSI historically, less likely to self-injure by cutting, and (in Study 2 only) were more likely to be men. These studies suggest that the inconsistencies across 2 of the most common NSSI assessments arise because people dissimilar to the lay conceptualization of self-injury are less likely to endorse a single-item, even when they have affirmed engaging in self-injury behaviors on a checklist. We argue that single-item and checklist assessments capture different aspects of NSSI, such that future research should distinguish between behaviorally identified NSSI assessed with behavioral checklists and self-identified NSSI assessed with single-item assessments.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kealagh Robinson ◽  
Marc Wilson

© 2020 american psychological association. Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is typically assessed using either single-item questionnaires or checklists of common behaviors, but preliminary research suggests that checklists produce higher lifetime prevalence rates. In 2 preregistered studies (combined n = 1,364), we tested whether memory cueing afforded by behavioral checklists accounts for this discrepancy. Participants reported their lifetime NSSI history using both a single-item and a checklist, with presentation order randomized across participants. Nearly a third of participants reported inconsistent NSSI histories on the 2 assessments, with participants 1.57 times more likely to report an NSSI history on a checklist than on a single-item. Counter to the memory account, this discrepancy was evident even when participants completed the checklist first, suggesting that the increased prevalence estimates captured by checklists are unlikely to simply reflect memory facilitation. Across the 2 samples, 12.5% of participants would have been incorrectly screened out in 2-step assessments; these participants were more likely to have engaged in NSSI historically, less likely to self-injure by cutting, and (in Study 2 only) were more likely to be men. These studies suggest that the inconsistencies across 2 of the most common NSSI assessments arise because people dissimilar to the lay conceptualization of self-injury are less likely to endorse a single-item, even when they have affirmed engaging in self-injury behaviors on a checklist. We argue that single-item and checklist assessments capture different aspects of NSSI, such that future research should distinguish between behaviorally identified NSSI assessed with behavioral checklists and self-identified NSSI assessed with single-item assessments.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kealagh Robinson ◽  
Marc Wilson

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is typically assessed using either single-item questionnaires or checklists of common behaviours, but preliminary research suggests that checklists produce higher lifetime prevalence rates. In two pre-registered studies (combined n = 1364), we tested whether memory cueing afforded by behavioural checklists accounts for this discrepancy. Participants reported their lifetime NSSI history using both a single-item and a checklist, with presentation order randomised across participants. Nearly a third of participants reported inconsistent NSSI histories on the two assessments, with participants 1.57 times more likely to report an NSSI history on a checklist than on a single-item. Counter to the memory account, this discrepancy was evident even when participants completed the checklist first, suggesting that the increased prevalence estimates captured by checklists are unlikely to simply reflect memory facilitation. Across the two samples, 12.5% of participants would have been incorrectly screened out in two-step assessments; these participants were more likely to have engaged in NSSI historically, less likely to self-injure by cutting, and (in Study 2 only) were more likely to be men. These studies suggest that the inconsistencies across two of the most common NSSI assessments arise because people dissimilar to the lay conceptualisation of self-injury are less likely to endorse a single-item, even when they have affirmed engaging in self-injury behaviours on a checklist. We argue that single-item and checklist assessments capture different aspects of NSSI, such that future research should distinguish between behaviourally-identified NSSI assessed with behavioural checklists and self-identified NSSI assessed with single-item assessments.


CNS Spectrums ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Nina M. Lutz ◽  
Samuel R. Chamberlain ◽  
Ian M. Goodyer ◽  
Anupam Bhardwaj ◽  
Barbara J. Sahakian ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent among adolescents and research is needed to clarify the mechanisms which contribute to the behavior. Here, the authors relate behavioral neurocognitive measures of impulsivity and compulsivity to repetitive and sporadic NSSI in a community sample of adolescents. Methods Computerized laboratory tasks (Affective Go/No-Go, Cambridge Gambling Task, and Probabilistic Reversal Task) were used to evaluate cognitive performance. Participants were adolescents aged 15 to 17 with (n = 50) and without (n = 190) NSSI history, sampled from the ROOTS project which recruited adolescents from secondary schools in Cambridgeshire, UK. NSSI was categorized as sporadic (1-3 instances per year) or repetitive (4 or more instances per year). Analyses were carried out in a series of linear and negative binomial regressions, controlling for age, gender, intelligence, and recent depressive symptoms. Results Adolescents with lifetime NSSI, and repetitive NSSI specifically, made significantly more perseverative errors on the Probabilistic Reversal Task and exhibited significantly lower quality of decision making on the Cambridge Gambling Task compared to no-NSSI controls. Those with sporadic NSSI did not significantly differ from no-NSSI controls on task performance. NSSI was not associated with behavioral measures of impulsivity. Conclusions Repetitive NSSI is associated with increased behavioral compulsivity and disadvantageous decision making, but not with behavioral impulsivity. Future research should continue to investigate how neurocognitive phenotypes contribute to the onset and maintenance of NSSI, and determine whether compulsivity and addictive features of NSSI are potential targets for treatment.


2020 ◽  
pp. 009862832097987
Author(s):  
Tamera Garlington ◽  
Valerie M. Ryan ◽  
Catherine Nolty ◽  
Hannah Ilagan ◽  
Zachary J. Kunicki

Social justice is an American Psychological Association (APA) ethical principal which is often taught in content courses (e.g. social psychology, developmental psychology, introductory psychology) but rarely covered in psychological statistics courses. This is problematic, as psychology students may assume that bias is not an issue when implementing statistical tests and interpreting their results if social justice topics are not incorporated into statistics classrooms. The current study evaluated student’s attitudes toward a social justice lecture in a statistics classroom ( N = 100 students). Results show students had more favorable attitudes toward social justice and agreed it was important to cover in statistics classrooms. Future research should extend this work by seeking to replicate these findings and evaluating additional pedagogical tools to incorporate social justice into the statistics classroom.


2012 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 331-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer J. Muehlenkamp

Nonsuicidal self-injury among youth and young adults remains a challenging behavior for clinicians to treat. Etiological models of self-injury have laid a foundation for the development of effective treatments that focus on the intrapersonal and interpersonal regulating functions of the behavior but have failed to consider other mechanisms that may facilitate the initiation and maintenance of the self-injury. This article presents a theoretical argument that body disregard is a necessary factor to include in etiological conceptualizations of nonsuicidal self-injurious behavior as well as within treatment approaches. Empirical literature is reviewed to provide a solid basis for the tenant that body disregard facilitates self-injury. Suggestions for incorporating treatment strategies that address body-related factors are offered along with some directions for future research.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chelsea Evanna Boccagno ◽  
D.Phil. Jill Miranda Hooley

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a widespread and dangerous behavior. Despite increasing understanding of the risk factors for NSSI, this behavior remains highly prevalent, highlighting the need for an extension of current research and more precise treatment targets. Specifically, research examining self-perception in NSSI provides a fruitful foundation for future work. Mounting studies indicate that self-concept disturbances are implicated in NSSI. Yet it remains unclear how different components of self-concept—such as self-criticism and identity confusion—are associated for people with NSSI. Furthermore, research in this domain uses distinct definitions and measures of self-concept disturbance, rendering it difficult to integrate findings across studies. This conceptual review provides the first summary to date synthesizing research on self-concept (content and structure) in NSSI, highlights research questions to address, and outlines suggestions for future work. Recommendations for NSSI research examining self-concept include: (a) increasing the consistency of terms used; (b) examining relationships between self-concept content and structure; (c) exploring the extent to which measures of self-concept and identity tap into the same phenomena; (d) assessing self-concept across different levels of analysis; and (e) identifying treatment targets for distinct self-related disturbances (e.g., heightened self-criticism versus an inconsistent sense of self). Potential intervention targets are discussed.


2017 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 150-154 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan M. Slezak ◽  
Caitlin Faas

This study implemented the components of interteaching as a probe to teach American Psychological Association (APA) Style to undergraduate university students in a psychology research methods and statistics course. The interteaching method was compared to the traditional lecture-based approach between two sections of the course with the same instructor. Both teaching strategies significantly increased student performance on the APA Style knowledge relative to pretest performance, with a greater average increase and larger effect size for students exposed to interteaching methods. However, 2 months after the initial intervention, the application of APA Style knowledge to a draft of a research report resulted in no significant differences. Future research is warranted to determine conditions that result in enhanced generalization and retention of APA Style knowledge.


2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 89-90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Nolen-Hoeksema ◽  
Gwendolyn Puryear Keita

Although women's 2 to 1 likelihood of developing a depressive disorder is a well-established fact, research over the last decade has expanded our knowledge of risk factors and issues of treatment and service delivery. The American Psychological Association convened an interdisciplinary Summit in 2000 on Women and Depression to examine these findings and to make recommendations on future research and policy needs, and to highlight treatment implications. This special section contains five articles from the Summit addressing a range of issues, including the relationship between women's depression and their lesser power and status in society (resulting in physical and sexual abuse and poverty), and the menstrual cycle and depression. Additionally, the special section includes articles on the rehabilitation of women with depression and treatment of depressed women in primary care settings.


2015 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 30-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan D. Green ◽  
Jaclyn C. Kearns ◽  
Annie M. Ledoux ◽  
Michael E. Addis ◽  
Brian P. Marx

Several known risk factors for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), such as negative emotionality and deficits in emotion skills, are also associated with masculinity. Researchers and clinicians suggest that masculine norms around emotional control and self-reliance may make men more likely to engage in self-harm. Masculinity has also been implicated as a potential risk factor for suicide and other self-damaging behaviors. However, the association between masculinity and NSSI has yet to be explored. In the current study, a sample of 912 emerging adults from two universities in the Northeastern United States completed a web-based questionnaire assessing adherence to masculine norms, engagement in NSSI, and known risk factors for NSSI (demographics and number of self-injurers known). Stronger adherence to masculine norms predicted chronic NSSI (five or more episodes throughout the life span) above and beyond other known risk factors. Adherence to masculine norms was related to methods of NSSI. Clinical implications are discussed, including discussions of masculine norms in treatment settings. Future research should examine what specific masculine norms are most closely linked to NSSI and other self-damaging behaviors.


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