Maternal and peer attachment, identity formation, and non-suicidal self-injury: a longitudinal mediation study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is defined as the repetitive, direct, and deliberate destruction of one's body tissue without an intention to die. Existing cross-sectional research indicates that the association between maternal/peer attachment and NSSI is mediated by identity synthesis and confusion. However, longitudinal confirmation of the aforementioned mediation models is necessary as cross-sectional models are known to be biased. Consequently, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether identity formation mediates the association between attachment and NSSI in a longitudinal design.

Methods

Three waves of self-report questionnaires data (1 year apart) were collected on maternal and peer attachment, identity, and NSSI from students of a high schoo

SUBMITTER: Gandhi A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6339302 | biostudies-literature | 2019

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature