Impact of CEA on Suicidal behaviour/Self-harm; mediating role of DT
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The impact of Childhood Emotional Abuse on Suicidal Behaviour and Self-Harm: the mediating role of Distress Tolerance.
IRAS ID
261321
Contact name
Tara Williams
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Wolverhampton
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NA, NA
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 1 months, 1 days
Research summary
Self injurious thoughts and behaviours impact over ten million individuals worldwide each year (Mann, 2013), with rising numbers of UK hospital admissions recorded for intentional self harm and suicide attempts (WHO, 2016). According to Caroll et al (2014) one in 25 patients presenting to hospital for self-harm will commit suicide; highlighting the importance of investigating the underlying mechanisms that contribute to self-harm and suicidal behaviour. Literature suggests that there are several risk factors that appear to predict these behaviours, including ability to manage emotions and abuse (Goldstein et al., 2009). Our experiences in childhood have also been found to be strong predictors of later psychological difficulties (Norman et al, 2012).
Childhood Emotional Abuse (CEA), described as actions and behaviours that are demeaning, humiliating and threatening (O’Dougherty Wright, 2007), has been linked extensively with psychological difficulties such as depression (Massing-Schaffer et al, 2015), anxiety (Banducci et al, 2016), self-harm, and suicidality (Miller et al, 2017), and has been recognised as a ‘core component’ that underpins other abuse types (Barnett et al, 2005).
Despite CEA’s strong theoretical link as a risk factor for suicidal behaviours and self-harm alone, several other factors have been recognised as mediating the severity of this relationship; such as social support and emotional coping skills (Thompson & Kaplan, 1996).
Distress tolerance (DT), a component of emotional regulation theory, is the perceived or actual inability to manage and cope with negative experiential states and emotional distress (Leyro, Zvolensky & Bernstein, 2010). Strongly associated with self injury (Sim et al, 2009), and increased capability for suicide (Anestis & Joiner, 2012), DT has been referenced as an emerging risk factor for various psychopathologies (Leyro et al, 2010). When DT is accompanied by adverse life events, suicidal behaviours (particularly suicidal ideation) have been found to increase (Capron, Norr, Macatee & Schmidt, 2013). Despite this, no study to date has examined the relationship between CEA and DT in individuals experiencing self-injurious thoughts and behaviours.REC name
West Midlands - Black Country Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/WM/0161
Date of REC Opinion
22 Aug 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion