Maladaptive perfectionism and adolescent NSSI: A moderated mediation model of psychological distress and mindfulness

Abstract Objectives Maladaptive perfectionism has been shown to be associated with non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) in adolescents. Based on the functional model of self‐injury, we predicted that this association is due to the mediating effect of psychological distress. We also tested the assumption that being mindful—that is, being able to accept rather than escape the psychological distress—would be a protective factor in this process. Methods Eight hundred and forty‐one Chinese adolescents completed online questionnaires concerning maladaptive perfectionism, psychological distress, mindfulness, and NSSI. Results Regression‐based analyses showed that maladaptive perfectionism predicted adolescents' NSSI through the indirect effect of psychological distress. Mindfulness weakened the indirect effect. Conclusions These findings suggest that self‐injury serves a function in emotion regulation and the communication of distress. The results also have implications for practice: Maladaptive perfectionism should be assessed as a risk factor for NSSI, and teaching mindfulness may be an effective intervention for adolescents who engage in this high‐risk behavior.