Schwaiger, T;
(2016)
The role of self-disgust in non-suicidal self-injury among individuals with personality disorder.
Doctoral thesis , UCL (University College London).
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Abstract
AIMS: There is growing evidence of a strong association between self-disgust and non- suicidal self-injury (NSSI). The aim of the current study was to investigate the role of self- disgust, alongside possible overlapping affect-states (shame, anger), in predicting lifetime NSSI among individuals with Personality Disorder (PD) features. This research also aimed to examine the psychometric structure of an existing self-disgust scale in this sample. METHOD: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted incorporating self-report questionnaires to screen for PD and to assess self-disgust, anger, shame, sexual abuse, lifetime NSSI and functions of NSSI. One hundred and eighty-eight individuals who screened positive for PD were recruited as well as 133 subjects who screened negative for PD. RESULT: Logistic regression analysis highlighted self-disgust as the single independent predictor of lifetime NSSI. Multiple regression analyses identified self-disgust as a predictor of the ‘self-punishment’, ‘anti-suicide’ and ‘communicating distress’ functions of NSSI. A principal component analysis of the self-disgust scale suggested that physical self-disgust explained over 50% of the variance out of the overall variability in the sample that screened positive for PD. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that self-disgust may be a significant risk factor for NSSI among individuals who screen positive for PD and indicate that self-disgust may specifically be connected with the impulse to attack and punish the self through self-injury. The effectiveness of interventions for NSSI among individuals with PD symptoms may be enhanced by examining whether self-disgust contributes to and/or maintains self-injurious behaviour. Treatment may also benefit from taking into consideration the strong visceral experiences related to self-disgust.
| Type: | Thesis (Doctoral) |
|---|---|
| Title: | The role of self-disgust in non-suicidal self-injury among individuals with personality disorder |
| Event: | University College London |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This empirical study was conducted in conjunction with another doctoral research project in clinical psychology by Clare Drea. |
| Keywords: | Self-disgust, personality disorder, non-suicidal self-injury |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Brain Sciences > Div of Psychology and Lang Sciences > Clinical, Edu and Hlth Psychology |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/1519694 |
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