EMOTIONAL REGULATION AND SOCIAL SUPPORT: THEIR PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL AGAINST NON-SUICIDAL SELF-INJURY IN SCHOOL-AGED ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The problem of non-suicidal self-injury (NNSI) in adolescents attending school in Chile has shown a significant increase in recent years, especially affecting females. These behaviors are linked to emotional dysregulation and a low perception of social support. However, few studies in Chile have explored the protective role of emotional regulation and social support against NNSI. OBJECTIVE. To analyze the role of emotional regulation and social support as protective factors against NNSI in school adolescents. METHODS. The study employed a non-experimental, correlational, cross-sectional design with 477 adolescents aged 12 to 18 years in the Region of Coquimbo, Chile, to evaluate variables such as emotional regulation, social support, and the prevalence of NNSI. RESULTS. 21.6% presented a high tendency to self-harm, being higher in non-binary and female adoles-cents. A significant relationship was found between emotional regulation and the absence of NNSI, and those who reported adequate emotional regulation skills were 11 times more likely not to self-injure (OR=11.0). Social support also showed a protective association, although less pronounced (OR=1.9 to 2.5). CONCLUSIONS. the need to implement interventions aimed at strengthening the emotional regulation and social support of ado-lescents, taking into account gender differences and contextual particularities, is emphasized. Likewise, the importance of addressing this problem from an approach that prioritizes strengths and potentialities, instead of focusing only on risk factors, is highlighted.