Self-Harm Tendencies, Peer Support and Emotional Distress in Young Adults

Abstract

This study examined the relationships among emotional distress, peer support, and self-harm tendencies in young adults in Pakistan. A cross-sectional design was used with a sample of N=300 participants aged 17–25 years (M = 21.3, SD = 2.4) were purposively selected from private and public colleges in Faisalabad and Rahim Yar Khan. Data were collected using the Self-Harm Inventory (SHI), Peer Support Questionnaire (PSQ), and Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10). The results indicated a significant positive association between emotional distress and self-harm tendencies. Regression analysis further showed that emotional distress significantly predicted self-harm. In contrast, peer support was not a significant predictor of self-harm. Moderation analysis revealed that peer support did not significantly moderate the relationship between emotional distress and self-harm. Gender differences were found only for self-harm tendencies, with males reporting higher levels than females, whereas no significant gender differences were observed in emotional distress or peer support.