The Influence of Parental Rejection on the Development of Maladaptive Schemas, Rumination, and Motivations for Self-Injury

Abstract

To improve understanding of the development of self-injury, the current study was designed to determine the role that rejecting caregivers may have in conferring risk through development of maladaptive schemas, rumination, and specific motives for various self-destructive behaviors. Data were collected from undergraduates endorsing a history of self-injury who were raised by both parents (n=228). The proposed model hypothesizing parental rejection influencing dual pathways of interpersonal and intrapersonal causes and motivations for self-injury was supported. Perceptions of greater parental rejection were associated with higher levels of both intra and interpersonal maladaptive schemas which, in turn, influenced corresponding intra and interpersonal motivations for self injury. Further, we found support for the expectation that the intrapersonal pathway was associated with greater depressive rumination and greater severity, recency, and variety of self-injury. Results are consistent with developmental models of dysfunctional caregiver relationships which disrupt the formation of healthy self views and adaptive emotional regulation capacities.

Preoccupied but not dismissing attachment states of mind are associated with nonsuicidal self-injury

“…Additional research examining the role of maladaptive schemas regarding early caregiving experiences in NSSI has shown relations between NSSI and “angry child” (i.e., individual feels angry regarding early emotional or physical abandonment) or “punitive parent” (i.e., individual feels she or he deserves punishment) schemas regarding one's (retrospectively reported) childhood caregiving experiences (Saldias, Power, Gillander, Campbell, & Blake, 2013). Similar relations have been found between NSSI and holding intra personal schemas of alienation and defectiveness, and inter personal schemas of abandonment and abuse (Quirk, Wier, Martin, & Christian, 2015). Although schemas regarding early experience are not synonymous with attachment states of mind, they nonetheless reflect cognitive processes by which information regarding early caregiving experiences is organized.…”

Like parent, like child? Exploring the association between early maladaptive schemas of adolescents involved with Child Protective Services and their parents

“…These findings support Young's schema theory assumptions that when parents are unstable, rejecting, and cold, the children's needs for safety, stability, empathy, connection, and acceptance are not provided for in a predictable manner. Previous research in (nonclinical) adolescent samples supported the importance of parental rejection in the formation of EMS regarding the self and perceived deficits in abilities needed to manage important relationships (e.g., Quirk, Wier, Martin, & Christian, ). Additional research, obviously using much larger samples, is needed to investigate the influence of attachment and parental rearing styles on the relation between EMS of parents and their children.…”

Family factors associated with self‐harm in adults: a systematic review

“…Participants described feeling paralysed by this style of parenting, feeling caught between a need to meet their parents' expectations in contrast to societal expectations, which resulted in the use of maladaptive coping strategies such as self‐harm. Quirk, Weir, Martin and Christian () highlighted a parenting style which was perceived by participants as rejecting. Perceptions of greater parental rejection were associated with higher levels of maladaptive schemas which in turn were associated with self‐harming behaviours.…”