Citation

Wei Q, Liu J, Yin W, Pan S, Dai C, Zhou L, Jiang X, Wang C, Wu J. J. Affect. Disord. 2024; ePub(ePub): ePub.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2024, Elsevier Publishing)

DOI

10.1016/j.jad.2024.07.111

PMID

39029701

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Childhood Emotional Abuse (CEA) is a known risk factor for Non Suicidal Self-injury (NSSI), which could have devastating repercussions. This study aimed to establish whether Parent-Child Attachment (PCA) and depressive symptoms mediated the CEA-NSSI relationship, as well as whether school connectedness moderated both the direct and indirect relationships between CEA and NSSI.

METHODS: Between November and December 2022, 7447 Chinese adolescents in high schools were surveyed through multi-stage cluster random sampling. The participants completed self-reported questionnaires that assessed CEA, PCA, depressive symptoms, school connectedness, and NSSI. Relationships between these variables were examined through moderated mediation analysis using SPSS macro-PROCESS.

RESULTS: After controlling for sociodemographic variables, we found that CEA correlated positively with NSSI through two different pathways: the mediating role of depressive symptoms and the chain-mediating role of both PCA and depressive symptoms. Moreover, school connectedness could moderate the direct and indirect relationships between CEA and NSSI. LIMITATIONS: The study's cross-sectional design does not allow for causal inferences.

CONCLUSIONS: Overall, PCA, depressive symptoms, and school connectedness could affect the CEA-NSSI relationship.

Language: en

Keywords

Adolescents; Childhood emotional abuse; Moderated mediation model; Non suicidal self-injury