The Interactive Effects of Impulsivity and Negative Emotions on Adolescent Nonsuicidal Self‐injury: A Latent Growth Curve Analysis

This study employed latent growth curve analysis to evaluate the interactive effects of two specific facets of impulsivity (i.e., negative urgency [NU] and premeditation [PRE]) and negative emotions (NE) on the developmental trajectory of nonsuicidal self‐injury ( NSSI ) among 3,453 (57% females) Chinese community adolescents. Participants completed questionnaires assessing NSSI , NU, PRE, and NE (i.e., depression, anxiety, and stress) at three waves of time. The initial levels of NE and NU significantly predicted the initial level of NSSI . Changes in NE and NU significantly predicted change in NSSI . Moreover, the initial levels of NU and PRE significantly moderated the relationship between the initial levels of NE and NSSI , such that among individuals with higher NU or less PRE, the three NE were associated with a higher level of NSSI . Additionally, among individuals with a faster increase in NU, depression and anxiety were associated with a faster increase in NSSI . These findings suggest that adolescents with trait impulsivity, especially in the form of NU, are more vulnerable to the engagement in NSSI .