The Relationship Between Identity Confusion and Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress and the Moderating Role of Life History Strategy

Previous research has shown that an increase in identity confusion is associated with a higher risk of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) in adolescents. Based on the identity-NSSI interplay model, we tested psychological distress as a mediator of this association. Based on the life history theory, we tested whether a slow life history strategy could weaken this mediation process. Five hundred and eighty-two Chinese middle school students (<i>M</i>_age = 13.75, <i>SD</i> = 0.67) completed questionnaires regarding identity confusion, psychological distress, life history strategy, and NSSI in May 2024. The results of structural equation modeling showed that identity confusion significantly predicted adolescent NSSI, and psychological distress mediated the association. Life history strategy moderated the second stage of the indirect effect (i.e., the relationship between psychological distress and NSSI). Specifically, the slower the life history strategy, the weaker the indirect effect of identity confusion on NSSI through psychological distress. These findings highlight the value of integrating life history strategy into research on adolescent NSSI.