Family Communication Patterns and the Mediating Role of Communication Competence and Alexithymia in Relation to Nonsuicidal Self-Injury

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) affects a growing number of youth and transitional-aged youth. Nock's (2009) comprehensive model of NSSI engagement points to a range of factors that combine to predict who is at a heightened risk for self-injury. The present study examined the impact of specific...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of Mental Health Counseling 2018-07, Vol.40 (3), p.226-239
Main Authors: Wester, Kelly L, King, Kelly
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alexithymia
Child & adolescent psychiatry
Children & youth
College students
Communication Skills
Construct Validity
Coping
Counseling
Domestic relations
Emotional Intelligence
Emotions
Family Environment
Family relations
Family Relationship
Health aspects
Injuries
Locus of Control
Mental health
Nontraditional students
Parents & parenting
Psychological aspects
Racial Identification
Self destructive behavior
Self injurious behavior
Self-injurious behaviour
Skills
Social aspects
Social Behavior
Social support
Validity
Verbal communication
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Summary:Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) affects a growing number of youth and transitional-aged youth. Nock's (2009) comprehensive model of NSSI engagement points to a range of factors that combine to predict who is at a heightened risk for self-injury. The present study examined the impact of specific interpersonal factors, family communication patterns (i.e., conversation and conformity orientations), and communication competence on five supported measures of selfinjurious behaviors. We further tested whether alexithymia, or a person's inability to identify and describe their emotions, mediated family communication patterns and communication competence in predicting NSSI behavior. Family communication patterns, specifically conversation orientation, had a positive impact on lifetime NSSI behaviors. While communication competence positively related to both lifetime and current NSSI behaviors, alexithymia mediated these relationships. Implications for treatment are provided.
ISSN:1040-2861
2163-5749
DOI:10.17744/mehc.40.3.04