Effects of self-hurt experience adult attachment on non-suicide self-harm: The sequential mediating effect of negative emotions and self-forgiveness

Objectives This study aimed to verify the sequential dual mediating effect of negative emotions, and self-forgiveness in the relationship between the two dimensions of adult attachment and non-suicidal self-harm. Methods An online survey was conducted on 212 adults aged 19 to 39 who had experienced self-harm to verify the sequential dual mediating effect. And data were analyzed by using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0. Results First, there is a significant correlation between all variables. Second, in the relationship between attachment anxiety and non-suicidal self-harm, and the relationship between attachment avoidance and non-suicidal self-harm, both negative emotions and self-forgiveness have significant partial mediating effects. Third, the sequential dual mediating effect of negative emotions and self-forgiveness was found to be significant in the relationship between attachment anxiety and non-suicide self-harm, and the relationship between attachment avoidance and non-suicide self-harm. Conclusions It is suggested that clients with high levels of unstable attachment may reduce non-suicide self- harm by lowering the negative emotions experienced in interpersonal relationships or increasing self-forgiveness when counseling adult clients who have experienced non-suicide self-harm.