The Prediction Model of Self–Harm Behaviors and Tendency to Suicide in Adolescence based on Attachment Styles and Personality Organization: Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self- harm behaviors (SHB) and tendency to suicide with attachment styleand personality organization with mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) among adolescent. Using structural equation modeling, 700 girl students were selected from high schools in Tehran (district 16) through multi-stage cluster sampling in Academic year 2017-2018. All participants were asked to complete Self-Harm Inventory, Multi-Attitude Suicide Tendency Scale, Inventory of parent and peer attachment, Personality Organization Inventory and the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. The results revealed predictability of self- harm behaviors/ suicide tendency based on the mediating role of cognitive emotion regulation strategies on the relationship between attachment styles and personality organization.Results also indicated thatinsecure attachment orientations and borderline personality organization can predict negative emotion regulation strategiesin adolescence. Findings of the current study are consistent with previous studies and theoretical stance and evaluating three variables including attachment styles, personality organization and cognitive emotion regulation strategies can be used to formulate aprevention and intervention program for treatment of adolescence with self-harm behaviors.

Keywords

• self-harm behaviors
• cognitive emotion regulation strategies
• attachment styles and personality organization