Association between parenting and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents in Yunnan, China: a cross-sectional survey

Abstract

Background Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among adolescents is prevalent and its rate has increased in recent years worldwide. Previous studies had investigated the association between parenting and childhood NSSI, but little is known about the relationship between parental rearing and repetition and severity of NSSI. The aim of this study was to investigate associations of parenting with NSSI and its repetition and severity in a representative adolescent sample from southwestern China. Methods In this cross-sectional study, a sample of 2,705 adolescents (F/M: 1,245/1,460; mean age: 13.4 ± 2.2 years) was recruited from 14 randomly selected schools in Lincang municipality, Yunnan province, China. A self-report questionnaire was used to collect data. The Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Function Assessment Scale and the short Chinese Egna Minnen av Barndoms Uppfostran (s-EMBU-C) were used to evaluate NSSI behaviors and parenting style, respectively. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were adopted to examine association between parenting and NSSI. Results Overall lifetime prevalence of NSSI was 47.1% (95% CI [36.2–58.0]), with self-cutting being the most common form (23.5% (95% CI [19.3–27.7])), followed by hitting hard objects (23.4% (95% CI [20.2–26.7])) and pulling hairs (20.9% (95% CI [18.8–22.6])). In multiple logistic regression analyses, NSSI was positively associated with high level of father’s rejection (OR: 1.32 (95% CI [1.01–1.72])), high level of mother’s rejection (OR: 1.76 (95% CI [1.46–2.13])), low level of mother’s emotional warmth (OR: 1.42 (95% CI [1.15–1.75])), and high level of mother’s overprotection (OR: 1.74 (95% CI [1.49–2.03])), repeated NSSI was positively associated with low level of father’s emotional warmth (OR: 1.39 (95% CI [1.10–1.75])) and high level of mother’s overprotection (OR: 1.79 (95% CI [1.33–2.41])), and severe NSSI was positively associated with low level of father’s emotional warmth (OR: 1.64 (95% CI [1.11–2.43])) and high level of mother’s rejection (OR: 2.16 (95% CI [1.71–2.71])). Conclusion NSSI is common among adolescents in southwestern China. Negative parenting styles are associated with NSSI, repeated NSSI, and severe NSSI. The development of intervention measures for preventing or reducing NSSI among Chinese adolescents in school settings should consider parenting styles.

Impulsivity mediates the association between parenting styles and self-harm in Chinese adolescents

“…Based on the results of the analysis, we found that less emotional warmth from the father, maternal over-protection, and rejection were significantly associated with SH. This conclusion was in line with two previous studies, which suggested that adverse parenting styles were risk factors of SH and suicidal behaviors among a representative sample of 3653 Chinese adolescents [ 12 , 26 ]. Parental over-protection and rejection can take the form of a stricter attitude and a higher level of control, and they have a negative effect on a child’s confidence and independence, which may in turn lead to mental health issues [ 27 ].…”

“…Furthermore, paternal and maternal parenting styles may exert different influences on the mental health and well-being of children, as suggested by recent findings [ 10 ]. Some studies revealed that negative parenting styles were also significantly related to SH in young people [ 11 , 12 ]. In this regard, understanding the developmental path of the association between parenting styles and SH is critical in order to devise intervention measures for SH related to parenting styles.…”

Clustering Analysis of Risk Factors for Non-suicidal Self-injury (NSSI) Behaviors in Adolescents

“…In previous studies, the prevalence rates of NSSI behaviors in adolescents within a year vary enormously from 6-44.3% [20][21]. The prevalence rate in this study is 4.2%, lower than the rates in previous studies, which may be attributed to the discrepancies in the age of the targeted subjects, questionnaires, de nitions of indices, social factors [22], as well as early implementation of mental health screening in primary and secondary schools in the west of China.…”

Associations between alexithymia, parental rearing styles, and frequency of drug use in male methamphetamine dependence patients

“…Individuals with alexithymia appear to have difficulty coping with social and psychological stressors and are more inclined to use “addictive” patterns as a coping strategy to manage underlying feelings of distress [ 11 ]. Alexithymia has been recognized as an significant risk factor for a variety of psychological and behavioral problems, including maladaptive schemas [ 12 ], eating disorders [ 13 ], academic achievement [ 14 ], non-suicidal self-injury [ 15 ], etc. Furthermore, alexithymia has been widely associated with increased marijuana use [ 16 ], increased caffeine consumption [ 17 ], mobile phone addiction [ 11 ], and pathological gambling [ 18 ].…”