Invalidating childhood environments and nonsuicidal self-injury in university students: Depression and mental pain as potential mediators.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential mediating effects of depression and psychache (i.e., extreme mental pain) on the relationship between parental invalidation and nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) in young adults. METHOD: A sample of 2474 university students responded to previously validated measures of current NSSI, childhood parental invalidation, depression, and psychache. RESULTS: Using a parallel mediation model, path analysis using structural equation modeling demonstrated full mediation by depression and psychache of the link between parental invalidation and NSSI. CONCLUSIONS: Findings suggest that the association between invalidating childhood environments and NSSI has the potential to be mitigated by addressing issues of depression and psychache.

Psychache Predicts Suicide Attempter Status Change in Students Starting University.

OBJECTIVES: Unlike many investigations that focus on suicide ideation rather than suicidal behavior, the present research evaluates the merit and relative efficacy of psychache (i.e., unbearable mental pain) for predicting self-reported suicide attempts among university students who are starting university. METHOD: A sample of 516 elevated-risk undergraduates was assessed during the first three weeks of starting university and, again, 10 weeks later. RESULTS: Psychache and depression, but not hopelessness, could predict change in suicide attempter status. When measures of psychache, depression, and hopelessness were considered simultaneously, only psychache provided significant, unique predictive power. CONCLUSIONS: Findings are interpreted as supporting Shneidman's model whereby psychache is seen as the cause of suicide.