Impacts of the psychological stress response on nonsuicidal self-injury behavior in students during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: the mediating role of sleep disorders

Jiayi Xiao; Ruotong Wang; Yan Hu; Tingxin He; Zhongqiang Ruan; Qi Chen; Ziwen Peng

doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00789-6

BMC Psychology (Apr 2022)

Impacts of the psychological stress response on nonsuicidal self-injury behavior in students during the COVID-19 epidemic in China: the mediating role of sleep disorders

Jiayi Xiao,
Ruotong Wang,
Yan Hu,
Tingxin He,
Zhongqiang Ruan,
Qi Chen,
Ziwen Peng

Affiliations

Jiayi Xiao: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Ruotong Wang: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Yan Hu: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Tingxin He: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Zhongqiang Ruan: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Qi Chen: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University
Ziwen Peng: Center for the Study of Applied Psychology, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science and School of Psychology, South China Normal University

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-022-00789-6
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 11

Abstract

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Abstract Background The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 had a great impact on the physical and mental health of people all over the world, especially for students whose physical and mental development was not yet mature. In order to understand the physical and mental conditions of students during the epidemic period and provide a theoretical basis for coping with psychological problems in public health emergencies, this study explored the mediating role of sleep disorders in the effect of the psychological stress response (PSR) on non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), along with the moderating role of emotional management ability (EMA). Methods The SRQ-20, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, NSSI Behavior Questionnaire, and Emotional Management Questionnaire were used to investigate the mental health of Chinese students in April 10–20 (Time point 1, T1) and May 20–30 (Time point 2, T2), 2020. A total of 1,955 students (Mage = 19.64 years, 51.4% male) were examined at T1 and 342 students (Mage = 20.06 years, 48.2% male) were reassessed at T2. Results Overall, the detection rate of PSR and NSSI were 17.60% (n = 344) and 24.90% (n = 486) respectively in the T1 sample, and were 16.37% (n = 56) and 25.44% (n = 87), in the T2 sample. We also found that sleep disorders played a mediating role in the effect of PSR on NSSI in the T1 and T2 samples. In addition, EMA was shown to regulate the effect of PSR on sleep disorders and the effect of sleep disorders on NSSI in the T1 samples. Conclusion We found that PSR resulting from public health emergency might lead to NSSI behaviors in individuals. PSR may also cause sleep disorders, which can bring about NSSI. However, these effects were also moderated by the EMA. This research expands our understanding of PSR and NSSI in students during the pandemic.

Published in BMC Psychology

ISSN: 2050-7283 (Online)
Publisher: BMC
Country of publisher: United Kingdom
LCC subjects: Philosophy. Psychology. Religion: Psychology
Website: http://www.biomedcentral.com/bmcpsychol

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