Is ceasing self‐injury enough? Differences in psychological health between people reporting behavioral cessation of non‐suicidal self‐injury and those who consider themselves to have stopped self‐injuring.

Objective: This study examined the overlap between considering oneself to have stopped nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) and the actual cessation of the behavior in terms of days self‐injured in the last month and last year, and how these operationalizations are associated with constructs related to NSSI recovery. Methods: A cross‐sectional survey including measures of coping, emotion dysregulation, psychological distress, general self‐efficacy, and self‐efficacy in resisting NSSI was answered by 144 adults aged 17–81 years (Mage [SD] = 21.43 [7.32]). Results: Having self‐injured for ≥5 days in the last year was overly inclusive of individuals who currently considered themselves as having stopped NSSI (39.02%). Considering oneself to have stopped NSSI was associated with better emotion regulation (Cohen's d = 0.45), and higher general self‐efficacy and higher self‐efficacy to resist NSSI (d = 0.59‒0.64) than behavioral cessation. Not actually engaging in NSSI was only associated with self‐efficacy to resist NSSI in risk contexts, such that fewer days self‐injured in the last year increased confidence (partial η2 = 0.085). Conclusion: Accounting for whether an individual considers themselves as having stopped NSSI or not may complement estimates of behavioral cessation, and strengthen outcomes associated with NSSI recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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