Nonsuicidal self-injury and approach behavior toward aversive images: A MouseView.js study
Abstract
Introduction: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with altered responses to self-injury-related cues. However, extant behavioral measures do not capture intentional engagement with stimuli, which may be most clinically relevant to understanding persistent NSSI.
Methods: We created a novel task in MouseView.js to measure voluntary engagement with NSSI-relevant stimuli using cursor movements. Young adults (N=143) with self-injurious thoughts and/or behaviors histories completed the task and questionnaires assessing NSSI and suicidal ideation (SI) at baseline and 2-, 4- and 6-month follow-ups.
Results: More frequent NSSI and greater SI severity were associated with increased engagement with suicide images (i.e., staged suicide attempts), but not general gore images, across the 10-second viewing period. Greater average engagement with both image types was associated with the presence (versus absence) of past-month NSSI. Greater baseline engagement with both image types prospectively predicted NSSI frequency over follow-ups; however, effects were non-significant when controlling for baseline symptoms.
Conclusion: We provide preliminary evidence that engagement with NSSI-relevant stimuli – measured using cursor movements – may be a concurrent behavioral correlate of NSSI. Effects were most consistent for images depicting self-injury, compared to general gore, suggesting that individuals with NSSI may be especially prone to engaging with content depicting intentional self-directed harm.
Related
- Examining Predictors of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Reveals Across the First Year of University
- Lifetime Prevalence of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents: Reliability of a Dichotomous Survey Item.
- Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Nonsuicidal Self-Injury in Adolescents With Mood Disorders
- Informal and Professional Awareness of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury: Clinical and Functional Correlates Among Arab Female University Students
- Beyond sum scores: a network analysis of dark triad traits and nonsuicidal self-injury in emerging adults
BibTeX
@misc{rain2026nonsuicidal,
title = {{Nonsuicidal self-injury and approach behavior toward aversive images: A MouseView.js study}},
author = {Sarina Rain and Lily Wanlu Martin and Edwin Dalmaijer and Thomas Armstrong and Jeremy G. Stewart},
howpublished = {PsyArXiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.31234/osf.io/kshxq_v1},
url = {https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/kshxq_v1/},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Nonsuicidal self-injury and approach behavior toward aversive images: A MouseView.js study
AU - Sarina Rain
AU - Lily Wanlu Martin
AU - Edwin Dalmaijer
AU - Thomas Armstrong
AU - Jeremy G. Stewart
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/24
PB - PsyArXiv
DO - 10.31234/osf.io/kshxq_v1
UR - https://osf.io/preprints/psyarxiv/kshxq_v1/
AB - Introduction: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is associated with altered responses to self-injury-related cues. However, extant behavioral measures do not capture intentional engagement with stimuli, which may be most clinically relevant to understanding persistent NSSI. Methods: We created a novel task in MouseView.js to measure voluntary engagement with NSSI-relevant stimuli using cursor movements. Young adults (N=143) with self-injurious thoughts and/or behaviors histories completed the task and questionnaires assessing NSSI and suicidal ideation (SI) at baseline and 2-, 4- and 6-month follow-ups. Results: More frequent NSSI and greater SI severity were associated with increased engagement with suicide images (i.e., staged suicide attempts), but not general gore images, across the 10-second viewing period. Greater average engagement with both image types was associated with the presence (versus absence) of past-month NSSI. Greater baseline engagement with both image types prospectively predicted NSSI frequency over follow-ups; however, effects were non-significant when controlling for baseline symptoms. Conclusion: We provide preliminary evidence that engagement with NSSI-relevant stimuli – measured using cursor movements – may be a concurrent behavioral correlate of NSSI. Effects were most consistent for images depicting self-injury, compared to general gore, suggesting that individuals with NSSI may be especially prone to engaging with content depicting intentional self-directed harm.
ER -