The growing environment on Chinese adolescents' non-suicidal self-injury: a parents-reported qualitative study

Abstract Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is prevalent in adolescents and brings a series of serious consequences to their well-being. Previous studies indicated that the growing environment has a significant impact on adolescents with NSSI, which is little known about the Chinese adolescents. The study aims to investigate the growing environment of Chinese adolescents with NSSI and explore the target of intervention in the growing environment of adolescents with NSSI. Methods: The participants are parents of adolescents with NSSI who responded to a study advert, which was distributed in the psychological ward in China. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and their responses were analyzed by the thematic analysis. Results: 20 participants (16 were mothers, and 4 were fathers) completed the interview. Four themes were identified: Parenting style, Family function, Peer interaction, and Psycho-behavioral factors as well as 14 subthemes. Conclusion: Parents-report demonstrated a series of problems, consisting of Inappropriate parenting style, invalid family function, negative interaction of peer and problematic behavioral factors, etc. This highlight increasing awareness was needed to seek some intervention in the aspects of a growing environment for them.