Structural Model of the Relationship between Pathological Personality Traits and Adolescents' Tendency to Self-Harm Behavior: The Mediating role of Hyper-Competitive Attitude

Background: Self-harm is more prevalent than previously thought in adolescent and young adult populations. This study aimed to test the structural model of the relationship between pathological personality traits and adolescents' tendency to self-harm behavior based on the mediating role of hyper-competitive attitude.Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on ۲۰۵ girls with self-damage selected for sampling during ۳ months (September to December) in Teheran, Iran, ۲۰۲۱. The participants were selected through snowball sampling method and answered the Competitive Attitude Scale (CAS); Personality Inventory for DSM-۵ (PID-۵) and Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) questionnaires. The results were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), AMOS۱۸ software.Results: Findings of the structural model test showed that each of the dimensions of abnormal personality has a positive effect on hyper-competitive attitude, also the effect of extreme competition on self-harm was positive and significant. On the other hand, the mediating role of hyper-competitive attitude in the relationship between abnormal personality dimensions and self-harm was confirmed. Fit indices with values (X۲ / df = ۲.۴۹, RMSEA = ۰.۰۸, GFI = ۰.۹۸, CFI = ۰.۹۸) also showed that the tested model has an acceptable fit with the concept model.Conclusions: Individuals suffering from pathological personalities and self-harm tendencies exhibited hyper-competitive attitudes. In assessment and treatment settings, our findings provide the best prognostic information to explain psychopathology and to highlight abnormal personality traits and self-harm behaviors in adolescents.Keywords: Pathological personality traits, Adolescent, Self-harm behavior, Hyper-competitive attitudeBackground: Self-harm is more prevalent than previously thought in adolescent and young adult populations. This study aimed to test the structural model of the relationship between pathological personality traits and adolescents' tendency to self-harm behavior based on the mediating role of hyper-competitive attitude. Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was performed on ۲۰۵ girls with self-damage selected for sampling during ۳ months (September to December) in Teheran, Iran, ۲۰۲۱. The participants were selected through snowball sampling method and answered the Competitive Attitude Scale (CAS); Personality Inventory for DSM-۵ (PID-۵) and Self-Harm Inventory (SHI) questionnaires. The results were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), AMOS۱۸ software. Results: Findings of the structural model test showed that each of the dimensions of abnormal personality has a positive effect on hyper-competitive attitude, also the effect of extreme competition on self-harm was positive and significant. On the other hand, the mediating role of hyper-competitive attitude in the relationship between abnormal personality dimensions and self-harm was confirmed. Fit indices with values (X۲ / df = ۲.۴۹, RMSEA = ۰.۰۸, GFI = ۰.۹۸, CFI = ۰.۹۸) also showed that the tested model has an acceptable fit with the concept model. Conclusions: Individuals suffering from pathological personalities and self-harm tendencies exhibited hyper-competitive attitudes. In assessment and treatment settings, our findings provide the best prognostic information to explain psychopathology and to highlight abnormal personality traits and self-harm behaviors in adolescents. Keywords: Pathological personality traits, Adolescent, Self-harm behavior, Hyper-competitive attitude