Journal
JOURNAL OF CHILD AND FAMILY STUDIES
Volume 25, Issue 6, Pages 1735-1745Publisher
SPRINGER
DOI: 10.1007/s10826-015-0350-0
Keywords
Non-suicidal self-injury; Maternal attachment; Peer attachment; Identity confusion; Identity synthesis
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Funding
- Fund for Scientific Research (FWO)-Flanders
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Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is highly prevalent in adolescents. Secure attachment with family and peers can reduce vulnerability to NSSI and can optimize the outcomes of developmental challenges such as identity formation. Problems experienced in these developmental processes and contexts can increase vulnerability to NSSI. Hence, the present study examined associations between attachment with mother and peers, identity formation, and NSSI, using self-report questionnaires in 528 high school students (Mean age = 15.0 years, SD = 1.84, 11-19 years, 50.4 % females). The lifetime prevalence of NSSI was found to be 14.2 %. Mediation analyses indicated that peer trust had a significant negative indirect effect on NSSI via identity synthesis and confusion. The positive association between peer alienation and NSSI was partially mediated by a lack of identity synthesis. Further, the pathways from maternal trust and alienation to NSSI were fully mediated by both identity confusion and synthesis. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed.
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