Stuck in a cycle of harm? The impact of emotional abuse on bullying and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: the role of perceived social support and self-compassion.

BACKGROUND

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) and bullying in adolescents have become more prominent in recent years, and childhood maltreatment is an important risk factor. However, it is still not clear enough how covert yet critical emotional harm from the family can lead to adolescents' external and internal harmful behaviors, and the underlying mechanism is not clear.

OBJECTIVE

This study examined the impact of emotional abuse on adolescent NSSI/ bullying and the mediating role of perceived social support and self-compassion, as well as gender differences.

PARTICIPANTS AND

SETTING

In the longitudinal follow-up design, 9273 adolescents (Mage = 15.61 ± 1.34) completed the self-report questionnaire at two-time points.

METHODS

Structural equation modeling was constructed to explore the effects of emotional abuse on NSSI/bullying and the mediating role of perceived social support and self-compassion. Gender differences in these relationships were examined using multiple group analysis.

RESULTS

Perceived social support and self-compassion mediated the effects of emotional abuse on both NSSI and bullying. Emotional abuse had a stronger impact on NSSI than on bullying. Gender difference results found that emotional abuse indirectly influenced both NSSI and bullying through self-compassion in males, while perceived social support and self-compassion mediate the effects of emotional abuse on NSSI in females.

CONCLUSIONS

Emotional abuse is strongly associated with adolescent NSSI/bullying and has significant gender differences. To safeguard adolescent mental health and reduce NSSI and bullying, it is crucial to optimize parenting and develop adolescents' positive resources.