Skip to main content

Advertisement

Log in

Parents’ Experiences of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents and Young Adults

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Journal of Child and Family Studies Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We assessed the impact of adolescent nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) on parents in two studies. In Study 1, 16 Australian parents of adolescents with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury responded to open-ended questions about their child’s nonsuicidal self-injury. Data from 10 of the adolescents were matched with parents’ responses regarding the nature and extent of nonsuicidal self-injury, revealing that parents underestimated the frequency of nonsuicidal self-injury, the age of onset, and the likelihood their child would continue to self-injure. In Study 2, 22 American parents of adolescents with a history of nonsuicidal self-injury participated in interviews about their experiences. Parents in both studies reported changes in the parent–adolescent relationship after self-injury, which posed challenges to the family unit. When professional help had been sought, experiences were largely negative. Results support further investigation into family-based interventions to equip parents with tools to better relate to, and communicate with, their adolescent following self-injury. Results also suggest that mental-health professionals and general practitioners may require further training for nonsuicidal self-injury.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Australian Bureau of Statistics (2012). Australian social trends: Family and community, 1998-2012 (cat. no. 4102.0). http://www.abs.gov.au.

  • Berger, E., Hasking, P., & Martin, G. (2013). ‘Listen to them’: Adolescents’ views on helping young people who self-injure. Journal of Adolescence, 36, 935–945. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2013.07.011.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. doi:10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, S., Morgan, S., Fitzpatrick, C., Boylan, C., Crowley, S., Gahan, H., & Guerin, S. (2008). Deliberate self-harm in children and adolescents: A qualitative study exploring the needs of parents and carers. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 13(4), 493–504. doi:10.1177/1359104508096765.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Crowell, S. E., Beauchaine, T. P., McCauley, E., Smith, C. J., Vasilev, C. A., & Stevens, A. L. (2008). Parent–child interactions, peripheral serotonin, and self-inflicted injury in adolescents. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 76(1), 15–21. doi:10.1037/0022-006X.76.1.15.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, E., Hawton, K., & Rodham, K. (2005). In what ways are adolescents who engage in self-harm or experience thoughts of self-harm different in terms of help-seeking, communication and coping strategies? Journal of Adolescence, 28, 573–587. doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2004.11.001.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Glenn, C. R., Franklin, J. C., & Nock, M. K. (2014). Evidence-based psychosocial treatments for self-injurious thoughts and behaviors in youth. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 44(1), 1–29. doi:10.1080/15374416.2014.945211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamza, C. A., Stewart, S. L., & Willoughby, T. (2012). Examining the link between nonsuicidal self-injury and suicidal behavior: A review of the literature and an integrated model. Clinical Psychology Review, 32(6), 482–495. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2012.05.003.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hamza, C. A., & Willoughby, T. (2014). A longitudinal person-centered examination of nonsuicidal self-injury among university students. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 43, 671–685. doi:10.1007/s10964-013-9991-8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Hilt, L. M., Nock, M. K., Lloyd-Richardson, E. E., & Prinstein, M. J. (2008). Longitudinal study of nonsuicidal self-injury among young adolescents: Rates, correlates, and preliminary test of an interpersonal model. Journal of Early Adolescence, 28(3), 455–469. doi:10.1177/0272431608316604.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huband, N., & Tantam, D. (2000). Attitudes to self-injury within a group of mental health staff. British Journal of Medical Psychology, 73(4), 495–504.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Karanges, E. A., Stephenson, C. P., & McGregor, I. S. (2014). Longitudinal trends in the dispensing of psychotropic medications in Australia from 2009–2012: Focus on children, adolescents and prescriber specialty. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 48, 917–931. doi:10.1177/0004867414538675.

  • Klonsky, E. D. (2007). The functions of deliberate self-injury: a review of the evidence. Clinical Psychology Review, 27, 226–239. doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2006.08.002.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Klonsky, E. D., May, A. M., & Glenn, C. R. (2013). The relationship between nonsuicidal self-injury and attempted suicide: converging evidence from four samples. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 122(1), 231–237. doi:10.1037/a0030278.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lindgren, B. M., Ǻström, S., & Graneheim, U. H. (2010). Held to ransom: parents of self-harming adults describe their lived experience of professional care and caregivers. International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-Being, 5, 5482–5491. doi:10.3402/qhw.v5i3.5482.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lu, C. Y., Zhang, F., Lakoma, M. D., Madden, J. M., Rusinak, D., Penfold, R. B., & Soumerai, S. B. (2014). Changes in antidepressant use by young people and suicidal behavior after FDA warnings and media coverage: quasi-experimental study. BMJ, 348, 1–12. doi:10.1136/bmj.g3596.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Martin, G., Swannell, S., Harrison, J., Hazell, P., & Taylor, A. (2010). The Australian National Epidemiological Study of Self-Injury (ANESSI). Brisbane, Australia: Centre for Suicide Prevention Studies.

    Google Scholar 

  • McAllister, M., Creedy, D., Moyle, W., & Farrugia, C. (2002). Nurses’ attitudes towards clients who self‐harm. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 40(5), 578–586. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2648.2002.02412.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald, G., O’Brien, L., & Jackson, D. (2007). Guilt and shame: Experiences of parents of self-harming adolescents. Journal of Child Health Care, 11(4), 298–310. doi:10.1177/1367493507082759.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S., Rickard, E., Noone, M., Boylan, C., Carthy, A., Crowley, S., & Fitzpatrick, C. (2013). Parents of young people with self-harm or suicidal behavior who seek help: A psychosocial profile. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 7(13), 1–10. doi:10.1186/1753-2000-7-13.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., Brausch, A., Quigley, K., & Whitlock, J. (2013a). Interpersonal features and functions of nonsuicidal self-injury. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 43(1), 67–80. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278X.2012.00128.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., Claes, L., Havertape, L., & Plener, P. L. (2012). International prevalence of adolescent non-suicidal self-injury and deliberate self-harm. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 6(10), 1–9. doi:10.1186/1753-2000-6-10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Muehlenkamp, J. J., Claes, L., Quigley, K., Prosser, E., Claes, S., & Jans, D. (2013b). Association of training on attitudes towards self-injuring clients across health professionals. Archives of Suicide Research, 17(4), 462–468. doi:10.1080/13811118.2013.801815.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K. (2009). Why do people hurt themselves? New insights into the nature and functions of self-injury. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(2), 78–83. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8721.2009.01613.x.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Nock, M. K., Prinstein, M. J., & Sterba, S. K. (2009). Revealing the form and function of self-injurious thoughts and behaviors: a real-time ecological assessment study among adolescents and young adults. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 118(4), 816–827. doi:10.1037/a0016948.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Oldershaw, A., Richards, C., Simic, M., & Schmidt, U. (2008). Parents’ perspectives on adolescent self-harm: qualitative study. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 193, 140–144. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.107.045930.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pineda, J., & Dadds, M. R. (2013). Family intervention for adolescents with suicidal behavior: A randomized controlled trial and mediation analysis. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 52(8), 851–862. doi:10.1016/j.jaac.2013.05.015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Raphael, H., Clarke, G., & Kumar, S. (2006). Exploring parents’ responses to their child’s deliberate self-harm. Health Education, 106(1), 9–20. doi:10.1108/09654280610637166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rissanen, M. L., Kylmä, J., & Laukkanen, E. (2008). Helping adolescents who self‐mutilate: Parental descriptions. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18(12), 1711–1721. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2702.2008.02672.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rissanen, M. L., Kylmä, J., & Laukkanen, E. (2009). Descriptions of help by Finnish adolescents who self-mutilate. Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Nursing, 22(1), 7–15. doi:10.1111/j.1744-6171.2008.00164.x.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ross, A. M., Kelly, C. M., & Jorm, A. F. (2014). Re-development of mental health first aid guidelines for non-suicidal self-injury: A Delphi study. BMC Psychiatry, 14(236), 1–8. doi:10.1186/s12888-014-0236-5.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sanders, M., Prior, J., & Ralph, A. (2009). An evaluation of a brief universal seminar series on positive parenting: A feasibility study. Journal of Children’s Services, 4(1), 4–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tatnell, R., Kelada, L., Hasking, P., & Martin, G. (2013). Longitudinal analysis of adolescent NSSI: The role of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors. Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, 42(6), 885–896. doi:10.1007/s10802-013-9837-6.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh, B. W. (2012). Treating self-injury: A practical guide. 2nd ed. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Whitlock, J., Muehlenkamp, J., Eckenrode, J., Purington, A., Abrams, G. B., Barreira, P., & Kress, V. (2013). Nonsuicidal self-injury as a gateway to suicide in young adults. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52(4), 486–492. doi:10.1016/j.jadohealth.2012.09.010.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Penelope Hasking.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

Research involving Human Participants

All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Informed consent

Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Kelada, L., Whitlock, J., Hasking, P. et al. Parents’ Experiences of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Among Adolescents and Young Adults. J Child Fam Stud 25, 3403–3416 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0496-4

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-016-0496-4

Keywords

Navigation