From Family Conflicts to Suicide Risk Through Deliberate Self-Harm Online Content in Adolescents and Young Adults

Introduction: Family conflicts are considered a risk factor for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Research also shows that adolescents are increasingly engaging in online DSH activities. However, studies on this topic are scarce. Aims: This study's first goal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:European Journal of Mental Health 2024-11, Vol.19 (30), p.1-14
Main Authors: Fuschini, Beatriz, Duarte, Eva, Miranda, Mariana P, Gouveia-Pereira, Maria
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
adolescents
deliberate self-harm
family conflicts
Mediation
online
Risk factors
Social aspects
Suicidal behavior
suicidal ideation
Suicide
Teenagers
Youth
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Summary:Introduction: Family conflicts are considered a risk factor for deliberate self-harm (DSH) and even suicidal thoughts and behaviors. Research also shows that adolescents are increasingly engaging in online DSH activities. However, studies on this topic are scarce. Aims: This study's first goal is to replicate the effect of family conflicts on suicidal ideation (SI) and, according to the gateway theory, include DSH diversity as a step preceding SI. Second, we aim to consider online activities in understanding suicidal risk. We start by describing online DSH activities, and propose a sequential mediation model in which family conflicts predict DSH and SI through online DSH activities. Methods: The convenience sample of this cross-sectional study consisted of 357 adolescents and young adults between 12 and 22 years old who completed a self-report questionnaire measuring family conflicts, online DSH activities, identification with DSH-related content creators, DSH, and suicidal ideation. Results: The results showed that 85.3% of our community sample used the internet for DSH-related purposes. Results also revealed an independent mediation effect of DSH diversity on the relationship between family conflicts and SI, and a sequential mediation effect of online DSH activities, identification, and DSH diversity. Conclusions: Engaging in online DSH activities is only predictive of DSH or SI if adolescents perceive a shared identity with this community of creators. The findings might yield implications regarding the design of prevention strategies that include a further supervision of online platforms and psychological interventions that incorporate the family system and peers. Keywords: adolescents, deliberate self-harm, suicidal ideation, family conflicts, online
ISSN:1788-4934
1788-7119
DOI:10.5708/EJMH.19.2024.0030