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 quasi-experimental 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 of 20 groups contains 10 boys and 10 Girls in the control and experimental groups. They were recruited from Sarhad Hospital for Psychiatric Diseases (SHPD) and the Center for Psychotherapy and Psychiatry in Peshawar, and 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.