Family resilience, emotional intelligence, and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese adolescents with mental disorders: a latent variable mediation analysis

TL;DR

This study explores how family resilience and emotional intelligence affect non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese adolescents with mental disorders.

Contribution

The study identifies emotional intelligence as a partial mediator between family resilience and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents.

Findings

229 out of 294 adolescents reported non-suicidal self-injury in the past year.

Low family resilience and emotional intelligence were linked to higher self-injury rates.

Emotional intelligence partially mediates the relationship between family resilience and self-injury.

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a common malpractice in adolescents with mental disorders. It may lead to suicide or other adverse consequences, thus affecting the treatment and rehabilitation of patients. We herein analyzed the relationship among family resilience, emotional intelligence, and NSSI behavior in adolescents with mental disorders.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 294 adolescent patients with mental disorders (91 boys and 203 girls) from the counselling center and inpatient adolescents of the Pediatric Psychology Department of Hunan Brain Hospital. Data were collected using the Family Resilience Scale, Emotional Intelligence Scale, and Adolescent Non-Suicidal Self-Injury Assessment Questionnaire. Structural equation modeling (SEM) was used to explore the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the association between family resilience and NSSI in these adolescents.

Herein, 229/294 patients reported at least one episode of NSSI behavior in the last one year. They had low levels of family resilience and emotional intelligence. Family resilience and emotional intelligence were significantly negatively correlated with NSSI behavior; consequently, they showed a significant association with NSSI behavior. The SEM analysis showed that emotional intelligence plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between family resilience and NSSI.

Family resilience and emotional intelligence are important protective factors for NSSI behaviors in adolescent patients with mental disorders. Future research can focus on stimulating the ability of adolescent patients with mental disorders to combine the strengths of their own and their family’s resources, find the right direction for their individual development, and promote their treatment and recovery.

Figures