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Title
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Does anger expression mediate the relationship between parental rejection and direct and indirect forms of non-suicidal self-injury?
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Author
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Abstract
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| Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the intentional destruction of one's own body without an intent to die (e.g., self-cutting). On the other hand, indirect forms of self-injury refer to behaviors in which people harm themselves in an indirect way (e.g., substance use). Existing literature suggests that a negative parent-child relationship may increase vulnerability to NSSI and indirect forms of self-injury. However, little is known about the potential mediators that intervene in the aforementioned relationship. Therefore, the present work tests a path model to investigate whether the manner of anger expression-anger-in (redirect anger inwardly) or anger-out (express anger outwardly)-mediates the association between parental rejection and direct (specifically self-cutting) and indirect (specifically substance use) forms of self-injury in a cross-sectional sample of Italian adolescents. We assessed self-injury, parental acceptance/rejection, and the expression of anger using self-report questionnaires in 2464 high school students, aged 13-20 years (M-age = 15.93, SD = 1.49). Additionally, characteristics of NSSI were also assessed using semi-structured interviews. We found that parental rejection was significantly positively associated with both self-cutting and substance use. The aforementioned relationship was mediated through anger-in for self-cutting, and through anger-out for substance use. The current work demonstrated that anger expression might work as a bridge between invalidating caregiving environment (i.e., rejecting), in which an individual feels unloved and uncared for, and the occurrence of self-cutting and substance use. The salient role of anger management in the development of prevention and intervention programs for NSSI and indirect self-injury among adolescents is discussed. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Journal of child and family studies. - -
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Publication
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2020
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ISSN
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1062-1024
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DOI
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10.1007/S10826-020-01844-9
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Volume/pages
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29
:12
(2020)
, p. 3575-3585
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ISI
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000577950100001
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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Full text (open access)
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