Impact of Negative Attribution Style on Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behavior among Homeless Individuals

Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors have been examined by researchers for several decades (Klonsky et al., 2016). Negative attribution style is considered as a possible contributing factor in explaining non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. The current study was carried out to explore the impact of negative attribution style on such behaviors among conveniently selected 300 homeless individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK). The individuals were approached and briefed about the research and data collection procedure. The participants completed the Attributional Style Questionnaire and Ottawa Self-injury Inventory along with the demographic sheet. Negative attribution style was found to be positively related to non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. The results revealed that this style positively predicted such behaviors among homeless individuals. Furthermore, it explained 13.1% variation in this type of behavior. Both subcategories of this attribution style positively predicted non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. The results also revealed that stability explained 15.5% variation, whereas globality explained 9.6% variation in such behaviors. Moreover, the study revealed significant gender-based differences with respect to self-injurious behaviors. Strategies can be developed to target negative attribution styles and to promote positive ones. Psychosocial intervention targeting non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors can be used in this regard.