title: Daily emotion in non-suicidal self-injury.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  While major theories of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) emphasize the behavior's role in emotion regulation, little is known about the daily emotional experiences of self-injurers. This study investigated the specific emotions that are characteristic of those who engage in NSSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  University students (n = 84) with either no history or a recent history of NSSI completed daily diary and retrospective measures of emotional experience. To evaluate generalizability of findings, the retrospective measure was also administered to a diverse sample of U.S. adults (n = 92) with and without histories of NSSI.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Results indicate that self-injurers experience greater negative emotionality, particularly self-dissatisfaction, compared to individuals with no NSSI history. Self-injurers also reported less positive emotion, but these effects were smaller. The pattern of results was similar when controlling for Axis I psychopathology and borderline personality disorder symptoms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Individuals who engage in NSSI experience more negative emotions, generally, and more self-dissatisfaction, specifically. Findings contribute to the growing literature on the role of emotion in the etiology and functions of NSSI.
authors.affiliation: University of British Columbia.
authors.forename: Sarah Elizabeth
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Victor
authors.forename: E David
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: Klonsky
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004644:Emotions / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: diary; emotion; self-derogation; self-harm; self-injury