The Effect of Complex Trauma on Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: The Mediating Effect of Difficulties in Emotional Regulation

The purpose of this study is to verify the mediating effect of difficulties in emotional regulation in the impact of complex trauma on nonsuicidal self-injury in adults. To test the model, data were collected from 350 adults using scales for traumatic experience, nonsuicidal self-injury, and difficulties in emotional regulation. The mediating effect was verified through regression analysis using SPSS 29.0 and Process Macro. As a result of the study, first, complex trauma, difficulties in emotional regulation, and non-suicidal self-harm were all found to have a positive significant correlation. Second, difficulties in emotional regulation was found to have a partial mediating effect in the relationship between complex trauma and non-suicidal self-harm. Third, the subfactors of difficulties in emotional regulation were found to have differences in mediating effects. This study is significant in that it confirmed the effect of complex trauma on non-suicidal self-harm in adults and suggested implications for therapeutic intervention to improve emotional regulation ability.