Childhood trauma and nonsuicidal self-injury in vocational students: A moderated mediation model

Abstract

It is a matter of public concern that the risk of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is high among vocational college students. The benefits and barriers model of NSSI considers childhood trauma an important vulnerability factor that influences NSSI through negative self-schema. Therefore, exploration of possible protective factors is necessary to inform NSSI interventions. We investigated the potential protective function of Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity and whether negative self-schema mediates the connection between childhood trauma and NSSI. Questionnaires were completed by 898 vocational college students aged 18-23 years. The results indicated that childhood trauma directly predicted NSSI and also indirectly predicted NSSI via negative selfschema. Additionally, Chinese cultural beliefs about adversity, as a vulnerability protective factor, moderated the relationship between childhood trauma and NSSI (i.e., the first half of the mediation effect). Thus, a selfschema and adversity belief-based intervention can help to prevent NSSI behavior among vocational college students.