1 - (SYM 2) Differences in Emotion Regulation Indices in Participants with a History of Nonsuicidal Self-injury (NSSI) Based on Sexual and Gender Minority (SGM) Identity

Background: Theories posit NSSI regulates emotions through the reduction of negative affect (NA) and increasing positive affect (PA), suggesting differences in emotion regulation based on NSSI history. Prior research exploring emotion dynamics (i.e., mean level, within-person variation, inertia, and differentiation) using daily diary shows that those with a history of NSSI reported higher mean levels and within-person variation of NA, lower differentiation of NA, lower mean levels and inertia of PA, and do not differ from controls on NA inertia (Bresin, 2014). The current study expands on previous results by examining emotion dynamics using ecological momentary assessment (EMA) and exploring group differences based on SGM status. To our knowledge, no research has explored emotion dynamics based on identity. We hypothesize a replication of Bresin’s (2014) results and conduct exploratory analyses for SGM status.

Methods: EMA data was collected 5 times a day for 28 days. Emotion dynamic indices were calculated from the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (Watson et al., 1988). Mean level affect was mean across items, emotional variability was variance of affect within-person, inertia was the correlation between affect lagged on previous timepoint, and differentiation was the intraclass correlation across items. Multilevel modeling was used for mean, variability, and inertia. Intraclass correlation was calculated using the calculate_ed function (Erbas et al., 2022). NSSI and SGM status were Level 2 between-subjects variables.

Results: Descriptive statistics showed approximately half the sample had a history of NSSI. Individuals with a history of NSSI reported higher mean level (t=2.02, p=.046) and within-person variance of NA (t=2.83, p< .05), and lower emotional differentiation of NA (t=-1.9, p=.06). No significant difference in NA inertia was reported. Those with a history of NSSI reported lower PA inertia (t=-4.29, p< .05). No significant group differences were reported for mean level, within-variation, or differentiation of PA. SGM status did not alter results. 

Conclusion: Results from Bresin (2014) were replicated for mean level, within-variation, and differentiation of NA, as well as PA inertia using EMA data, strengthening the conclusion that individuals with a history of NSSI differ from controls across emotion dynamics. Exploratory analyses found no significant effect of SGM status, suggesting status does not impact emotion dynamics. The results of this study should inform theory and treatment surrounding affect and NSSI.