Abstract
Background
Scholars have suggested negative self-perceptions are central to understanding risk for non-suicidal (NSSI) and suicidal self-injury. Body attitudes are a core aspect of the self, and research has found that negative body attitudes relate to both NSSI and suicide, but it remains unclear if the risk is more distal or proximal.
Method
The current study utilized a 21-day EMA protocol to examine how momentary changes in body appreciation (valuing the body, a facet of positive body image) corresponded to concurrent and next-day NSSI and suicide urges. Participants included 25 adult outpatients (Mage = 35.6, SD = 14.3) who received notifications three times daily, randomized within 4-hour time blocks, across the 21 days (1,301 total responses). At each notification, participants indicated their current level of body appreciation, and both NSSI and suicide urges.
Results
Both state (within-subject) and trait (between-subject) body appreciation were negatively associated with concurrent NSSI and suicide urges. Only trait body appreciation was prospectively associated with NSSI urges; no other significant prospective relationships were observed.
Conclusions
These findings provide evidence that body appreciation has a momentary protective effect on NSSI and suicide urges, as well as may reduce prospective risk for NSSI. The results are consistent with theoretical arguments emphasizing the importance of body attitudes in conceptualizing risk and could open innovative avenues for intervention and prevention.