This repository contains the analysis scripts for a two-part study investigating cognitive biases in reward processing among youth with self-harm (SH) histories.
We tested whether SH behaviour is underpinned by motivational biases toward SH-related cues using a novel Incentive Delay Task (IDT). Across two studies (including an online Trier Social Stress Test for negative affect induction), we compared SH groups to healthy controls and groups with negative affect but no SH history.
- General Findings: No significant between-group differences in IDT performance across SH, social, or monetary trials, contradicting the "addictive bias" hypothesis.
- Individual Differences: Specific SH characteristics (e.g., positive reinforcement, mental imagery, and urges) were significantly correlated with better performance on SH trials.
- Clinical Implication: SH behaviour may not be driven by a broad motivational bias toward SH cues, suggesting more nuanced drivers of individual behaviour.
SHPart1.R: Statistical analysis for Study 1 (Cross-sectional comparison).SHPart2.R: Statistical analysis for Study 2 (Stress induction sample).
- Clinical Data Science: Handling sensitive, high-stakes clinical data from vulnerable populations.
- Experimental Design: Analyzing results from a novel Incentive Delay Task (IDT) with SH-related, social, and monetary stimuli.
- Hypothesis Testing: Executing robust statistical comparisons across clinical, psychiatric-control, and healthy-control groups.
- Stress-Testing Analysis: Processing data from participants subjected to the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST).