Do Gender and Age Moderate the Relationship between Friendship Quality and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Community Children and Adolescents?

Kristina Eggermont,Margot Bastin,Koen Luyckx,Laurence Claes

doi:10.5334/pb.1067

Kristina Eggermont, Margot Bastin + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.5334/pb.1067

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Abstract

In the present study, we investigated the relationship between friendship quality (dimensions) and non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) as well as the moderating role of gender and age in this relationship. The sample consisted of 463 children and adolescents (50.10% female, age range: 9–17 years). Friendship quality and NSSI were measured using the Friendship Qualities Scale (FQS; Bukowski, Hoza, & Boivin, 1994) and the Self Harm Inventory (SHI; Sansone, Wiederman, & Sansone, 1998), respectively. Overall, total friendship quality and NSSI were significantly and negatively related. Additionally, the relationship between total friendship quality and NSSI was moderated by gender and age. Specifically, girls with low friendship quality reported more NSSI; whereas for boys an opposite effect was found. As for age, friendship quality and NSSI were positively related in older participants. In younger participants, a relationship between friendship quality and NSSI seemed rather absent. This study highlights the important association between friendship quality and NSSI, as well as gender- and age-related differences in this association, which should be taken into account in the prevention and treatment of NSSI.

Highlights

NON-SUICIDAL SELF-INJURY Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as socially unaccepted, direct, and deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent, such as cutting, burning, hitting, and scratching oneself (Giletta et al, 2012)
PRESENT STUDY In the present study, we investigated the relationship between friendship quality dimensions and NSSI in a community sample of children and adolescents
We examined the role of gender and age as moderators in the relation between friendship quality and NSSI

Summary

Introduction

NON-SUICIDAL SELF-INJURY Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as socially unaccepted, direct, and deliberate destruction of one’s own body tissue without suicidal intent, such as cutting, burning, hitting, and scratching oneself (Giletta et al, 2012). The pooled lifetime prevalence of NSSI is estimated around 17.2% for community adolescents (Swannell et al, 2014), and even higher in adolescent inpatients (12– 82.4%; Heath et al, 2008). Some studies have reported that girls are more likely than boys to engage in NSSI (Jacobson & Gould, 2007); whereas other studies have not found gender differences (Swannell et al, 2014). Clear gender differences exist in the applied methods of NSSI: boys are more likely to hit themselves, whereas girls are more likely to cut themselves (Baetens et al, 2011; Heath et al, 2008)

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