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Project

Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescence: Interplay between Psychological Distress and Parenting

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) refers to socially unaccepted, intentional, and direct injury of ones own body tissue without suicidal intent (Nock & Favazza, 2009). The risk for engaging in NSSI seems to be particularly high in adolescence (Hooley, 2008), with a mean lifetime prevalence of 18% (Muehlenkamp, Claes, Havertape, & Plener, 2012). We chose to investigate NSSI in adolescence given the increased risk of onset of NSSI during this developmental period (Nixon & Heath, 2009). Comprehensive knowledge about NSSI among adolescents is critical to develop prevention and intervention programs for youth engaging in NSSI.

This PhD dissertation focuses on adolescents psychological distress, parenting behaviors and their respective roles and interaction, in relation to NSSI in adolescence. Examining the role of intrapersonal and interpersonal risk factors is essential in obtaining a better understanding of the etiology of NSSI and is critical to building effective prevention and intervention programs for adolescents who engage in NSSI.

A first line of research focuses on the prevalence of NSSI in Flanders. Chapter 2 examines the prevalence rate of NSSI (in comparison to suicidal self-injury, SSI) in a community sample of Flemish adolescents between the ages of 12 - 18 years. The prevalence rate of NSSI in Flanders is compared with prevalence rates of NSSI in other Western countries. Furthermore, we examine differences between adolescents engaging in NSSI and adolescents engaging in SSI with regard to  sociodemographic correlates, functionality, and stressful life events.

A second line of research investigates the role of intrapersonal risk factors in association with NSSI in adolescence. In the first study of Chapter 3, associations with psychological symptoms (internalizing and externalizing) are examined. In the second study, the associations between NSSI and temperament traits are described in a sample of adolescents between the ages of 14 - 19 years.

A third line of research examines associations between NSSI and distal/proximal family risk factors: the associations between parenting behaviors, socioeconomic status (SES), family structure and NSSI are examined in a non-clinical sample of pre-adolescents (age 12) and their parents (Chapter 4).

A fourth line of research focuses on the interplay between intrapersonal (psychological distress) and interpersonal risk factors in relation to NSSI in adolescence (Chapter 5). This research presents a promising avenue to gain further insight in NSSI in adolescence, and fills a gap in the international research on understanding NSSI in non-clinical samples of adolescents.

In Chapter 6, we provide a summary of our findings and a discussion of strengths and limitations of this PhD dissertation, as well as perspectives for future research and clinical practice.

Date:1 Nov 2008 →  29 Aug 2013
Keywords:Nonsuicidal self-injury
Disciplines:Biological and physiological psychology, General psychology, Other psychology and cognitive sciences
Project type:PhD project