title: Parenting behavior in families of female adolescents with nonsuicidal self-injury in comparison to a clinical and a nonclinical control group.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is often accompanied by dysfunctional familial relationships. Problems within the family are also frequent triggers for NSSI.
  
  
  METHODS
  The current study investigated the parenting behavior in families of 45 female adolescents with NSSI disorder, 27 adolescents with other mental disorders (clinical controls, CCs), and 44 adolescents without mental disorders (nonclinical controls, NCs). The adolescents and their parents (92 mothers, 24 fathers) were surveyed using self-report measures. The parenting dimensions warmth and support, psychological control, and behavioral control (demands, rules, and discipline), as well as parental psychopathology and parental satisfaction were assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Adolescents with NSSI disorder reported significantly less maternal warmth and support than NCs (d = .64); this group difference was not evident in mothers' reports. No group differences emerged regarding adolescent-reported paternal parenting behavior. Mothers of adolescents with NSSI reported higher depression, anxiety, and stress scores than mothers in the NC group and less parental satisfaction than mothers in both control groups (CC and NC).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Given the association between NSSI, low levels of adolescent-reported maternal warmth and support and low levels of mother-reported parental satisfaction, clinical interventions for adolescents with NSSI should focus on improving family communication and interaction.
authors.affiliation: University of Koblenz-Landau, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ostbahnstrasse 12 76829, Landau, Germany.
authors.forename: Taru
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tschan
authors.affiliation: Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Marc
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schmid
authors.affiliation: University of Koblenz-Landau, Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology and Psychotherapy, Ostbahnstrasse 12 76829, Landau, Germany.
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: In-Albon
keywords: Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI); Parenting behavior; Parent–child interaction; Warmth and support