Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42902346›Full record

ArticleBorderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation2026

Non-suicidal self-injury and digital ostracism: a novel smartphone-based paradigm capturing real-time responses to social media exclusion.

Carlos Schmidt, Stella Nicolaou, Daniela Otero, Josep Marco-Pallarés, Diana Castilla, Irene Zaragoza, Joaquim Soler, Juan Carlos Pascual, Daniel Vega

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Borderline personality disorder and emotion dysregulation, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Carlos SchmidtDepartment of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari d'Igualada (Consorci Sanitari de l'Anoia) & Fundació Sanitària d'Igualada, Igualada (Barcelona), Spain.
Stella NicolaouPediatric Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.
Daniela OteroDepartment of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari d'Igualada (Consorci Sanitari de l'Anoia) & Fundació Sanitària d'Igualada, Igualada (Barcelona), Spain.
Josep Marco-PallarésDepartment of Cognition, Development and Educational Psychology, Institute of Neurosciences, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Diana CastillaDepartment of Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Irene ZaragozaDepartment of Computer Science, School of Engineering, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain.
Joaquim SolerDepartment of Psychiatry and Forensic Medicine, Institute of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Juan Carlos PascualMental Health Department, Consorci Hospitalari de Vic, Barcelona, Spain.
Daniel VegaDepartment of Mental Health, Hospital Universitari d'Igualada (Consorci Sanitari de l'Anoia) & Fundació Sanitària d'Igualada, Igualada (Barcelona), Spain. daniel.vegamo@gmail.com.

Funding

Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities PID2021-129109OB-I00
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundOstracism on social media is a common and emotionally salient stressor. However, its moment-to-moment psychological and behavioral consequences, remain poorly understood in individuals with Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI) and Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).

methodsUsing an Instagram-mimicking smartphone platform (Socializapp) coupled with Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA), we examined responses to experimentally manipulated peer feedback across 7 days in three groups: healthy Controls (HC; n = 20), NSSI without BPD (NSSI; n = 18), and comorbid BPD+NSSI (n = 17). Participants were exposed to Inclusion, Partial Exclusion, and Exclusion conditions. Linear and generalized linear mixed-effects models tested within-person effects on perceived exclusion and approval, affective reactivity, objective engagement (Likes and Comments) and NSSI urges, with borderline traits (BPQ) modeled dimensionally.

resultsCompliance was high, supporting feasibility. The manipulation was perceived as intended, with perceived exclusion increasing and perceived approval decreasing stepwise from Inclusion to Partial and Full Exclusion across participants. Exclusion also increased negative affect, reduced positive affect, and suppressed effortful interaction (fewer comments). In exploratory analyses, Exclusion was associated with more than a threefold increase in the odds of reporting an NSSI urge, after adjusting for borderline severity. While the data more clearly supported a baseline negative appraisal bias associated with borderline severity (even under objectively favorable feedback) evidence for cross-level moderation effects remained inconclusive.

conclusionsSocial media ostracism emerges as a relevant interpersonal stressor for individuals with NSSI, producing detectable shifts in online engagement and, in exploratory analysis, increases in self-harm urges and changes. Borderline severity tracked a sustained negative interpretation of social feedback, although potential moderation effects regarding exclusion reactivity remained inconclusive. These findings establish Socializapp as a feasible paradigm and highlight everyday digital social experiences as meaningful targets for understanding short-term fluctuations in NSSI vulnerability.

Indexed as

Borderline personality disorderNon-suicidal self-injurySocial media ostracismYoung women

Identifiers

PMID42902346
PMCPMC13685250

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