The role of cravings in the association between distress tolerance and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents.

Résumé

Repetitive non-suicidal self-injury is increasingly prevalent among adolescents, yet its potential addictive features remain understudied. In particular, the role of self-injury cravings in relation to distress tolerance has not been empirically explored in community samples. This cross-sectional study investigated the associations among distress tolerance, self-injury cravings, and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents. A total of 153 South Korean adolescents (ages 14-16, grades 7-9) completed the Distress Tolerance Scale, the General Craving Scale, and the Korean Self-Harm Inventory. Lower distress tolerance was significantly associated with greater non-suicidal self-injury engagement. Cravings for self-injury mediated the relationship between distress tolerance and non-suicidal self-injury. The findings suggest that non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents may involve both emotion regulation difficulties and craving-related mechanisms as an addictive feature. Interventions aiming to prevent adolescent non-suicidal self-injury should address both distress tolerance and self-harm cravings. These findings support the integration of emotion regulation and strategies informed by addiction-related characteristics in both clinical and community-based mental health settings.