Our results provide initial evidence that
psychobiological divergence confers risk for substance use and NSSI in combination with current relational distress.
In the current pilot study (N = 45 youth), we investigate whether
psychobiological divergence of neuroendocrine and self - reported reactivity in middle childhood prospectively predicts health risk behaviors (HRBs) in adolescence.
This pattern of behavior (referred to as
psychobiological divergence) may confer risk for suboptimal coping behaviors, including substance use, sexual risk - taking, and non-suicidal self - injury (NSSI), because individuals who are not aware of or can not express their emotional needs may engage in maladaptive strategies to regulate their emotions.