Relationship of Temperament and Character Traits, Emotional Regulation and Perceived Parenting With Self-harming Behaviors in Adolescents

Abstract

Objectives: The current study aims to provide a structural modeling of self-harm behaviors in adolescents based on their temperament and character traits, emotion regulation strategies, and perceived parenting. Methods: This is a descriptive/correlational study. The study population consists of all high school students (1-3th grade) during 2017-2018 in Tehran, Iran. Of these, 159 with a mean age of 15±0.75 years were selected by using a cluster sampling technique. they were assessed by Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Parenting Styles and Dimensions Questionnaire (PSDQ), Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), and Deliberate Self-Harming Inventory (DSHI). For data analysis, Pearson correlation test and structural equation modeling were conducted in LISREL v. 8.8 and SPSS v. 20 applications. Results: Novelty seeking dimension of TCI and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies had a direct and positive relationship with self-harming behavior. Although harm avoidance dimension of TCI and authoritarian parenting had no direct effect on self-harming behaviors, they became effective after mediation by maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies. Maladaptive emotion regulation strategies and novelty seeking together were able to predict 22% of the variance in self- harming behavior Conclusion: Novelty seeking personality trait and authoritarian parenting can affect and predict self-harming behaviors of the adolescents.Sirwan Karimi