THE IMPACT OF CHILD MALTREATMENT ON SELF-INJURY IN DEPRESSED ADOLESCENTS: THE MODERATING ROLE OF COPING STYLES
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Keywords
maltreatment, adolescent, developing country, coping strategy
Abstract
Background: Child maltreatment is a significant risk factor for psychological issues such as depression and self-injurious behaviors (SIB), especially in adolescents. This study examines the relationship between child maltreatment, coping styles, and self-injury among depressed Pakistani adolescents, and explores the moderating role of coping styles in this relationship.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 300 Pakistani adolescents aged 12 to 18 years, using self-reported measures. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) assessed maltreatment, the Brief COPE Inventory measured coping styles, and the Deliberate Self-Harm Inventory (DSHI) evaluated self-injurious behaviors. Data were analyzed using logistic regression, independent t-tests, and moderation analysis to test the hypotheses.
Results: Adolescents with a history of child maltreatment were 3.5 times more likely to engage in self-injury compared to those without maltreatment (p < .001). Maladaptive coping styles were significantly associated with higher rates of self-injury (60%) compared to adaptive coping styles (25%, p < .001). Furthermore, coping styles moderated the relationship between maltreatment and self-injury; adolescents with a history of maltreatment who used adaptive coping strategies were significantly less likely to engage in self-injury (40%) compared to those who used maladaptive strategies (70%, p < .001).
Conclusion: The study highlights the critical role of coping styles in moderating the impact of child maltreatment on self-injurious behaviors. Adolescents with maltreatment histories who utilize adaptive coping mechanisms are at a lower risk of self-injury. These findings underscore the need for interventions that focus on developing adaptive coping skills and emotional regulation strategies, particularly for at-risk populations in cultural contexts like Pakistan, where mental health stigma prevails. Future research should consider longitudinal studies to further explore these relationships.
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Saba Shabir
Lecturer, Applied Psychology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Rimsha Irshad
Lecturer, Applied Psychology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Nazia Zafar
Lecturer, Applied Psychology, The Government Sadiq College Women University, Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Gull Naz Khan
PhD, Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Aamir Iqbal
PhD, Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan
Adeela Kanwal
M. Phil Scholar, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.
Javeria Saleem
Lecturer, Department of Applied Psychology, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur, Pakistan.