J Affect Disord. 2025 Dec 5:120824. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2025.120824. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Although the relationship between family experiences and adolescents’ psychosocial functioning has been extensively explored, research integrating multiple family system variables to explain adolescent Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) remains scarce. Grounded in Bowen’s Family Systems Theory, this investigation explores the pathways and mediating mechanisms of interparental conflict, parent-child triangulation (and its six forms), differentiation of self (DoS), and adolescent NSSI.
METHODS: A cluster random sampling method was employed to recruit 2038 adolescents aged 15-17 (53.87 % male) from general high schools and vocational high schools in Shandong Province, China. The Children’s Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, the Parent-Child Triangulation Scale, the Differentiation of Self Inventory Revised, and the Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire were used for measurement. Path analysis and mediation tests were conducted using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM).
RESULTS: Interparental conflict significantly and positively predicted adolescent NSSI. The mediating role of parent-child triangulation was significant but varied by form: stable coalition, unstable coercive coalition, detouring-attacking, and instrumental parentification showed significant mediating effects between interparental conflict and NSSI; the mediating paths for detouring-supportive and emotional parentification were non-significant. The separate mediating effect of DoS between interparental conflict and NSSI was significant. Significant chain mediation was found with form-specific patterns: the four paths (interparental conflict → stable coalition/unstable coercive coalition/detouring-attacking/emotional parentification → DoS → NSSI) were significant; the two paths (interparental conflict → detouring-supportive/instrumental parentification → DoS → NSSI) were non-significant.
CONCLUSIONS: The findings provide empirical support for clinical interventions targeting high-risk families (marital conflict) and adolescent NSSI.
PMID:41354102 | DOI:10.1016/j.jad.2025.120824
