title: Nonsuicidal self-injury in college students: the role of perfectionism and rumination.
abstract: A paucity of research exists examining personality and cognitive characteristics that may contribute to nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI). The purpose of the current study was to clarify the contribution of perfectionism and rumination, along with depression and anxiety, to NSSI within a sample of 170 college students. Group comparisons revealed that participants with a history of NSSI endorsed significantly more rumination and depressive and anxious symptoms then non-NSSI controls. Results regarding perfectionism were mixed, with NSSI participants differing from controls on select aspects of perfectionism. Results suggest higher levels of depression and anxiety and a ruminative cognitive style may increase vulnerability for NSSI; however, further research is needed to clarify the contribution of perfectionism.
authors.affiliation: Psychology, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND 58202-8380, USA. erica_hoff@und.nodak.edu
authors.forename: Erica R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Hoff
authors.forename: Jennifer J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Muehlenkamp
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010287:Parent-Child Relations; D010551:Personality; D010555:Personality Inventory; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012649:Self Concept; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult