Investigating the Mediating Role of Social Dysfunction in the Relationship between Anxiety and Self-Harm in Children of Divorce: A Descriptive Study

Background and Objectives: Social dysfunction and self-harm disorder are common disorders in children of divorce and these problems can cause serious mental disorders and many problems for the individual, society, and family.The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between anxiety and self-harm in children of divorce, considering the mediating role of social dysfunction. Materials and Methods:The method of the current research was a descriptive correlation type using structural equations modeling.The statistical population of this research was children of divorce studying in primary schools in Tehran in 2023; out of which, 200 people were identified by convenience sampling method, and completed The Screen for Child Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders by Birmaher et al., Social Skills Questionnaire by Matson et al., and Taghizadeh's Self-Injury Scale.The collected data were analyzed through structural equations modeling method. Results:The results showed that there is a relationship between anxiety according to the path coefficients of 0.168 and impairment in the social functioning of children of divorce (p<0.010).There is a relationship between social dysfunction and the path coefficient of 0.272 and self-harm in children of divorce (p<0.010).Finally, there is a relationship between children's anxiety with the path coefficient of 0.612 and self-harm in children of divorce (p<0.010). Conclusion:Disruption of social functioning plays a mediating role in the relationship between anxiety and self-harm in children of divorce.Therefore, the promotion of social performance enables a person to have an effective relationship with others and avoid unreasonable reactions.