Effects of Negative Parent-Child Relationships in Childhood on Depression and Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Behaviors in College Students: Mediating Effects of Dysfunctional Parent Modes

Objectives This study examined the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and depression and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors in college students and the mediating effect of dysfunctional parent modes on the relationship between these two variables. Methods For this study, we selected 470 college students (377 males and 93 females) with non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors through a panel survey from a survey organization, and used structural equation modeling analysis to test whether negative parent-child relationships in childhood sequentially mediate through dysfunctional parent modes and depression to influence non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. Results The findings were as follows: First, dysfunctional parent modes fully mediated the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and depression; second, dysfunctional parent mode fully mediated the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors; and third, dysfunctional parent mode did not sequentially mediate the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors. Third, dysfunctional parent mode did not sequentially mediate depression in the relationship between negative parent-child relationships in childhood and non-suicidal self-injurious behavior. Conclusions Based on these findings, the significance of this study and implications for schema therapy to effectively intervene with college students who are depressed or engage in non-suicidal self-injurious behaviors due to negative parent-child relationships in childhood are discussed and suggested for future research.