Temporal dynamics of shame and guilt in adolescent NSSI: an ambulatory assessment study
In adolescents who engage in NSSI, shame and guilt co-occur with episodes of elevated urges rather than predict them over short periods. Shame appears more involved in the aftermath of NSSI, consistent with a maintenance process, whereas guilt tracked urges to a similar extent but did not change post-NSSI. Clinically, spikes in both shame and guilt may serve as actionable real-time markers, and post-episode support targeting self-criticism and anticipated judgment may be especially beneficial. Schools and health care settings can reduce barriers to help-seeking by using non-stigmatizing language around NSSI, given that shame frequently drives concealment.
Authors
- Diana Klinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1959-1088)
- Bettina Pfeffer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2823-9972)
- Rahel L. van Eickels (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7461-2929)
- Andreas Goreis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8994-964X)
- Karin Prillinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9835-1850)
- Oswald D. Kothgassner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3243-0238)
- Heidi-Elisabeth Zesch
- Paul L. Plener
- Ulrich W. Ebner-Priemer
- Laurence Claes
- Dorothy Chang
- Sofia-Marie Oehlke
Institutions
- University of Vienna (AT)
- University of Antwerp (BE)
- American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (US)
- Heidelberg University (DE)
- Comprehensive Cancer Center Vienna (AT)
- Central Institute of Mental Health (DE)
- Institute of Sports Medicine and Science (JP)
- Medical University of Vienna (AT)
- KU Leuven (BE)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Psychiatry
- Published
- 2026-02-17
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1758601
- Primary Topic
- Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Österreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften
- Austrian Science Fund