Adolescents choosing self-harm as an emotion regulation strategy: The protective role of trait emotional intelligence

Objectives. The present study seeks to extend the understanding of the role of dispositional factors in the aetiology of self-harm among adolescents. We hypothesized that higher trait emotional intelligence (trait EI) would be associated with a lower likelihood to harm oneself, and that this relationship would be mediated by the choice of coping strategies. Design and Methods. Trait EI, coping styles and self-harm behaviours were assessed in 490 adolescents recruited from eight British schools. Results. The results supported our hypothesis and showed that the relationship between trait EI and self-harm was partly mediated by the choice of coping strategies. Emotional coping was a particularly powerful mediator, suggesting that self-harm may be a way to decrease the negative emotions that are exacerbated by maladaptive emotional coping strategies, such as rumination, self-blame, and helplessness. Trait EI was correlated positively with adaptive coping styles and negatively with maladaptive coping styles, and depression. Conclusions. These findings emphasize the potential value of incorporating coping coaching programmes in the treatment of self-harm patients.