The Relationship Between Perceived Stress, Impulsivity, Executive Dysfunction and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Thoughts Among Chinese College Students: A Gender Difference Study

Abstract

Background

The present study aimed to investigate the potential role of perceived stress, impulsivity trait, executive dysfunction in non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) thoughts among college students, as well as the gender differences.

Methods

A sample of 890 university students completed self-report measures of NSSI thoughts in the past month, the level of perceived stress, impulsivity traits, and executive dysfunction.

Results

Compared to those with low level of perceived stress, participants with high level of perceived stress reported significant higher levels of impulsivity trait and executive dysfunction, and higher frequency of NSSI thoughts, and there were no gender differences. Male participants with NSSI thoughts, compared to males without NSSI thoughts, reported significant higher levels of perceived stress and executive dysfunction. Female participants with NSSI thoughts, compared to females without NSSI thoughts, reported significant higher levels of perceived stress, impulsivity trait, and executive dysfunction. Hierarchical regression analysis revealed only executive dysfunction was associated with NSSI thoughts in males, while only perceived stress was associated with NSSI thoughts in females.

Conclusion

This study revealed different influence factors for NSSI thoughts in male and female college students. NSSI thoughts in males were more likely associated with executive dysfunction while in females were due to recently perceived stress.

Keywords:

• perceived stress
• impulsivity
• executive dysfunction
• non-suicidal self-injury
• gender difference

Data Sharing Statement

The supporting data can be accessed from the corresponding author (Jingbo Gong) on reasonable request.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.

Additional information

Funding

This study was funded by the Shanghai Changning District Medical Health Research Project (CNKW2022Y39), the Research Project of Shanghai Science and Technology Commission (20dz2260300), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, the Jiangsu Provincial Maternal and Child Health Research Project (F202060), and Changzhou City Applied Basic Research Project (CJ20230050).