Self-Injurious Behaviors and Adult Attachment: A Review of the Literature

Abstract

Self-injurious behaviors (SIB) continue to afflict a significant segment of the clinical and general population, sometimes with fatal consequences. The development of SIB seems to share developmental pathways and mechanisms similar to attachment insecurity. To date, no reviews have explored their relationship. A search of publication databases PubMed and PsychInfo from 1969 through April 2018 was conducted and 17 papers met inclusion criteria. Of the 17 articles identified, 13 reported a positive relationship and 1 reported a negative relationship between attachment insecurity and SIB. Both attachment anxiety and avoidance seem to play a role in the risk for SIB, possibly through different mechanisms and likely with different impacts on the choice for either self-harm or suicide attempts.

Keywords:

• adult attachment
• suicide attempt
• self harm
• self-injurious behaviors

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to Dr. Izabela Szelest, Dr. Molly Trecker, and Dr. Stephen Adams for their constructive feedback on the manuscript. Thank you to Dr. Prosanta Mondal for assisting in the interpretation of more complex results.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the University of Saskatchewan, College of Medicine. The funder did not participate in study design; in the collection, analysis and interpretation of articles; in the writing of the report; and in the decision to submit the article for publication.

Notes on contributors

Andrew J. Wrath

Andrew J. Wrath, Department of Psychiatry, Ellis Hall Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada.

G. Camelia Adams

G. Camelia Adams, Department of Psychiatry, Ellis Hall Royal University Hospital, 103 Hospital Drive, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 0W8, Canada.