Non-Suicidal Self-Injuries in Adolescents: The Role of Satisfaction with Family Life

Abstract

The family plays a determining role in the development of the emotional well-being of its members. Self-injury is a phenomenon that has been growing in the world statistics in adolescents, so there is an enormous concern for the presence of risk factors, both individual and psychosocial. The relationship between satisfaction with family life and the emergent behavior of non-suicidal self-injury was established. The study had a quantitative, correlational, non-experimental, cross-sectional design. The population consisted of 200 high school students. The results indicate that a chaotic and unsatisfactory family environment may be a predisposing factor for the presence of emergent non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. Adolescents present self-injurious practices for various reasons: feelings of loneliness, insecurity behaviors, inadequate response to adversity. In addition, self-determination theory offers a plausible explanation for the relationship found in this research. The satisfaction of basic psychological needs, such as the need for competence, relatedness, and autonomy, can be achieved through a healthy and supportive family environment, which in turn can improve the emotional well-being of adolescents and reduce the risk of self-injurious behaviors.

Received: 7 September 2023 / Accepted: 6 January 2024 / Published: 5 March 2024