Affiliation:
1. Department of Psychology, Faculty of Health Sciences University of Deusto Bilbao Spain
2. Faculty of Education International University of La Rioja Logrono Spain
3. Faculty of Health Sciences University of Isabel I Burgos Spain
Abstract
AbstractIntroductionNonsuicidal selfinjury (NSSI) is an important problem in adolescence, which is thought to serve several reinforcement functions (positive vs. negative, automatic vs. social). While the psychological mechanisms involved in NSSI are relatively well known, there is an important gap in the knowledge regarding the underlying biological mechanisms. This study examined the role of testosterone (T) and cortisol (C) in the frequency and reinforcement functions of NSSI.MethodsA total of 423 adolescents (age range = 13–17; 54.4% girls) from Basque Country (Spain) provided saliva samples to determine T and C levels and completed measures of NSSI 6 months later in 2017–2018.ResultsThe results showed that T but not C was significantly associated with higher NSSI frequency and the four types of NSSI functions. In addition, C moderated the predictive association between T and NSSI for automatic negative reinforcement, such that this association was significant only when C was high. Participant sex did not moderate any association between hormones and NSSI.ConclusionsThese preliminary results suggest that testosterone levels can affect NSSI behaviors in adolescence, thus helping to explain the increase in NSSI during this stage. Moreover, in situations in which NSSI serves to alleviate negative internal states, high levels of cortisol can be involved.