The Mediating Role of Emotion Regulation on Self-harm among Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Minority (LGBTQ+) Individuals

Abstract

Objective

The present study was conducted to (1) investigate the role of emotion regulation difficulties among self-harming Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, or Questioning (LGBTQ+) individuals and (2) to test for a mediating role of emotion regulation difficulties in self-harm among LGBTQ + individuals.

Method

This study investigated the relationship between LGBTQ + status, self-reported levels of emotion regulation difficulties, and self-harm in a community sample (N = 484, aged 16–63), using an online cross-sectional survey.

Results

LGBTQ + individuals reported more emotion regulation difficulties and were almost seven times more likely to self-harm than non-LGBTQ + participants. Being an LGBTQ + participant was associated with greater self-harm frequency when controlling for age, income, and difficulties in emotion regulation. Emotion regulation difficulties mediated the association between LGBTQ + status and both self-harm status and frequency.

Conclusions

The present findings suggest that treating emotion regulation difficulties might reduce both the prevalence and lifetime frequency of self-harm episodes among gender identity and sexual orientation minority individuals. Targeting emotion regulation might be used as an early prevention strategy among LGBTQ + individuals who are at risk for self-harm. Further, enhancing emotion regulation skills among self-harming LGBTQ + individuals might replace maladaptive emotion regulation strategies with healthy alternatives, and can, therefore, foster resilience. HIGHLIGHTS

• LGBTQ + individuals are at high risk for self-harm.

• ER-mediated the association between LGBTQ + status and self-harm.

• Targeting emotion regulation in LGBTQ + people may help reduce self-harm.

Keywords:

• Emotion regulation
• gender
• LGBTQ+
• NSSI
• self-harm
• sexuality

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Maria Jernslett for proofreading this article.

DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

No potential competing interest was reported by the authors.

DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

Data is available on request from the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Notes on contributors

Alexandros Kapatais

Alexandros Kapatais and Ellen Townsend, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. A. Jess Williams, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK and Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

A. Jess Williams

Alexandros Kapatais and Ellen Townsend, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. A. Jess Williams, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK and Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.

Ellen Townsend

Alexandros Kapatais and Ellen Townsend, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK. A. Jess Williams, Self-Harm Research Group, School of Psychology, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK and Institute for Mental Health, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK.