Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and suicide attempts (SAs) are distinguished by suicidal intent but share several psychological vulnerabilities. However, it remains unclear whether these vulnerabilities are differently organised among individuals presenting with NSSI versus SA. Guided by the Integrated Motivational-Volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behaviour, this study uses network analysis to examine whether motivational and volitional constructs are differently organised among individuals presenting with NSSI versus SA. 

We hypothesise that motivational constructs are more strongly connected in the SA network and that volitional constructs show greater centrality in this group. Data are drawn from a hospital-based sample of 500 adults presenting with self-harm to two general hospitals in central Scotland (NSSI n = 164; SA n = 336). Separate psychological networks are estimated using Gaussian Graphical Models with regularisation, including IMV-related constructs. The SA network shows greater overall connectivity between psychological variables than the NSSI network, consistent with the hypothesis that motivational constructs are more strongly connected in the SA network. 

Contrary to the hypothesis, volitional constructs impulsivity and acquired capability do not show greater centrality in the SA network. Across both networks, defeat, internal entrapment, external entrapment, and depressive symptoms appear closely connected. Overall, network configurations appear largely similar across groups, although the SA network shows greater overall connectivity, suggesting that differences may lie more in the strength of associations than in the overall configuration of constructs.