Citation

Halstead RO, Pavkov TW, Hecker LL, Seliner MM. J. Marital Fam. Ther. 2014; 40(2): 246-259.

Affiliation

Purdue University Calumet.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2014, American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, Publisher John Wiley and Sons)

DOI

10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.00336.x

PMID

24749523

Abstract

This study tested the relationship between family dynamics and self-injury. A total of 189 participants responded to a web-based survey collecting information related to previous self-injury behaviors and family dynamics. Participants were over 18 years old who had used self-injury (intentionally harming themselves physically to relieve painful emotions without suicidal intent), but who had not used self-injury for over a year.

RESULTS indicated that healthy family dynamics were negatively correlated and associated with higher scores of self-injury behaviors. This study offers some evidence that family dynamics influence self-injury behaviors. The implications for family therapy are discussed.

Language: en