Social Support and NSSI : The Impact of COVID-19 Stress Eau Claire

Abstract

Recent research reports an increase in the prevalence of self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents during the pandemic, jumping from 17% to 28% in 2021. The reasons for this needed exploration. Social support acts as a protective factor for NSSI, meaning that youth with greater levels of social support are less likely to engage in NSSI. During the pandemic, there has been significantly more stress, and many have experienced less social support due to COVID regulations. This study aimed to understand the impact of COVID stress on the relationship between social support and NSSI. We hypothesized that COVID stress would moderate the relationship between social support and NSSI.