Levels of Dissociation and Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: A Quartile Risk Model

Abstract

Extant research indicates that dissociation may act as a risk factor for nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), but the data are mixed. In this study, 75 university and community females ages 18–35 were assessed for rates of normative, clinical, and severely clinical dissociation as well as for NSSI. Significant differences in normative dissociation were found between the control group and the group reporting a history of NSSI. In addition, normative dissociation—but not clinical or severely clinical dissociation—was found to be significantly associated with NSSI in this sample. Considering this finding in the context of the existing literature, we propose a quartile risk model of dissociation and NSSI as a new approach to the influences of levels of dissociation on NSSI risk.

KEYWORDS:

• nonsuicidal self-injury
• NSSI
• self-injury
• dissociation
• risk factor
• model

Additional information

Funding

Support for this study was provided by the Psychology Department of Suffolk University and by a David Caul Graduate Research Grant from the International Society for the Study of Trauma and Dissociation.