Non-Suicidal Self-Injury and Suicidal Self-Injury: A Taxometric Investigation

Debate exists within the literature regarding whether self-injurious behavior (SIB) is most accurately conceptualized as a dimensional or categorical construct. Some researchers have proposed that two distinct forms of SIB s exist, suicidal self-injury (SSI) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), with the forms being distinguished by the intent of the individual to die. However, others conceptualize SIB as occurring along a continuum, with SSI representing the extreme on a continuum of SIB. The aim of the present study was to investigate the latent structure of SIB using taxometrics, a series of statistical procedures designed to elucidate the latent structure (i.e., categorical or dimensional) of phenomena. Participants consisted of undergraduates who completed the Survey of College Mental Health and Well Being. Three mathematically independent taxometric procedures, Maximun Eigenvalue (MAXEIG), Mean Above Minus Below a Cut (MAMBAC), and latent-mode (L-mode) factor analysis---were used to analyze the latent structure of SIB. Although the comparison curve fit index scores did not clearly support a dimensional or categorical construct, the plot shapes were generally consistent with a latent dimensional construct, suggesting that SIB, including NSSI and SSI, occurs on a continuum.