The Relationship Between Identity Confusion and Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: The Mediating Role of Psychological Distress and the Moderating Role of Life History Strategy

= 0.67) completed questionnaires regarding identity confusion, psychological distress, life history strategy, and NSSI in May 2024. The results of structural equation modeling showed that identity confusion significantly predicted adolescent NSSI, and psychological distress mediated the association. Life history strategy moderated the second stage of the indirect effect (i.e., the relationship between psychological distress and NSSI). Specifically, the slower the life history strategy, the weaker the indirect effect of identity confusion on NSSI through psychological distress. These findings highlight the value of integrating life history strategy into research on adolescent NSSI.