The association between dormitory interpersonal relationships and non-suicidal self-injury in Chinese university students: a moderated mediation model

The rising prevalence of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) among university students necessitates urgent investigation into its psychosocial predictive factors. This study examines the mediating role of depression in the relationship between dormitory interpersonal relationships and NSSI, while assessing the moderating effect of parent-child relationship among Chinese university students. A sample of 942 Chinese students (M = 20.89 years, SD = 1.89) completed validated measures of dormitory interpersonal relationships, depression, NSSI, and parent-child relationship. Results demonstrated that: (1) dormitory interpersonal relationships negatively predicted NSSI; (2) depression partially mediated the association between dormitory interpersonal relationships and NSSI; and (3) parent-child relationship moderated both the direct pathway and the latter half of the mediated pathway. Critically, these effects were amplified among students with poorer parent-child relationship. These findings underscore the interplay between microsystem environments and familial support in shaping NSSI risk, offering actionable insights for campus mental health interventions.