Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) Among Adolescents: Life Skill Training as a Pathway to Resilience and Emotional Regulation

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a widespread public
health concern among adolescents, often linked to emotional
dysregulation and ineffective coping strategies. This quasiexperimental
study evaluated the impact of a culturally relevant
life skills training program on emotional regulation and
resilience in adolescents aged 16 to 19 diagnosed with NSSI
behaviors. A total of 40 participants Each 20 groups contain 10
boys and 10 Girls in control group and experimental group. They
were recruited from Sarhad Hospital for Psychiatric Diseases
(SHPD) and the Center for Psychotherapy and Psychiatry in
Peshawar, were randomly assigned to an experimental (life skills
training) or control group. Pre- and post-assessments were
conducted using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale
(DERS) and the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation
(FASM). While there was a weak non-significant correlation
between pre- and post-intervention DERS-NSSI scores (r = .249, p
= .291), post-intervention scores showed significant
improvement (M = -18.70, p = .011), with a medium effect size
(Cohen’s d = -0.627, Hedges' g = -0.615). The intervention
significantly enhanced emotional regulation and resilience, with
NSSI-specific outcomes also showing substantial improvement.
These findings underscore the transformative potential of life
skills training in reducing emotional dysregulation, enhancing
resilience, and addressing NSSI behaviors in adolescents. The
study's findings offer insights into culturally tailored
interventions and provide evidence for integrating life skills
programs to address adolescent mental health challenges.