Self-criticism is a real-time predictor of non-suicidal self-injury and disordered eating: An ecological momentary assessment study among treatment-seeking individuals

Although theory and research implicate self-criticism as a risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), the nature of this association in daily life remains unclear. This study used ecological momentary assessment (EMA) to address whether (1) trait and state self-criticism elevate the risk of NSSI, (2) state self-criticism predicts NSSI behavior in real-time via increased NSSI urge intensity, and (3) the risk pattern extends to disordered eating (DE; binge eating, purging, restrictive eating).