Relationship between family functioning and non-suicidal self-injury behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders
10.11886/scjsws20250922001
- VernacularTitle:青少年抑郁障碍患者家庭功能与非自杀性自伤行为的关系
- Author:
Tongxing MA
1
;
Zilong SONG
1
;
Yingyi CHEN
1
;
Xinzhu ZHENG
1
;
Junsong LIANG
1
;
Liping LIU
1
Author Information
1. The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin, Harbin 150056, China
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- Keywords:
Depressive disorders;
Adolescents;
Family functioning;
Non-suicidal self-injury
- From:
Sichuan Mental Health
2026;39(1):14-20
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
BackgroundFamily functioning is one of the factors influencing non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders. Previous studies have treated family functioning as a unitary construct, which may obscure the differential impacts of specific dimensions on NSSI behaviors. ObjectiveTo explore the relationships between various dimensions of family functioning and NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders, aiming to provide precise targets for family-based interventions for adolescents with depressive disorders who exhibit NSSI behaviors. MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 217 adolescent patients who were treated at the outpatient or inpatient department of The First Psychiatric Hospital of Harbin from January to July 2025 and met the diagnostic criteria for depressive disorders as stipulated in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fifth edition (DSM-5) were included as the research subjects. Assessments included a self-designed questionnaire, the Hamilton Depression Scale-17 item (HAMD-17), and the Family Assessment Device (FAD). Univariate Logistic regression analysis was employed to investigate the association between each dimension of family functioning and the NSSI behaviors, and multivariate Logistic regression was used to test the independent effect of each dimension of family functioning on the NSSI behaviors. ResultsA total of 204 cases (94.01%) of adolescent patients with depressive disorders completed the valid questionnaire survey. Among them, 134 cases (65.69%) exhibited NSSI behaviors (NSSI group), and 70 cases (34.31%) did not exhibit NSSI behaviors (non-NSSI group). Compared with the non-NSSI group, the NSSI group had a higher HAMD-17 score [(20.97±7.50) vs. (17.79±6.95), t=8.705, P=0.004], a higher FAD total score [(155.68±21.84) vs. (148.87±22.72), t=4.348, P=0.038], and a higher problem-solving dimension score [(2.54±0.49) vs. (2.34±0.51), t=7.399, P=0.007]. All the differences were statistically significant. The results of the Logistic regression analysis showed that the FAD total score (OR=1.014, 95% CI: 1.001–1.028, P=0.041) and the problem-solving dimension score (OR=2.241, 95% CI: 1.228–4.090, P=0.009) were both risk factors for NSSI behaviors. After adjusting for gender, age, residence, educational level, monthly family income, and whether being an only child, the correlation between the FAD total score and NSSI behaviors was not statistically significant (OR=1.010, 95% CI: 0.995–1.025, P=0.185), while the correlation between the FAD problem-solving dimension score and NSSI behaviors remained statistically significant (OR=2.000, 95% CI: 1.028–3.889, P=0.041). ConclusionImpaired problem-solving capacity within family functioning may constitute a risk factor for NSSI behaviors in adolescents with depressive disorders. [Funded by Research Project of Heilongjiang Provincial Health Commission (number, 20240303090148, 20230303090154)]