Determining the family functions and self-esteem of the self-injurious adolescents: a case-control study

Objective: The purpose is to determine some clinical features of self-injurious behavior, family functions and self-esteem in self-injurious adolescents in comparison to a control group. Apart from that, one purpose is to evaluate the relationships between self-esteem and some clinical features regarding self-injurious behavior in the case group. Methods: A group of 70 adolescents with self-injurious behavior who admitted to the child and adolescent psychiatry outpatient clinic were included in the study as well as another group of 70 adolescents with similar age and gender distribution to the case group who does not have self-injurious behavior. Self-Injurious Behavior Information Form, Piers-Harris Children\'s Self-Concept Scale and Family Assessment Device are applied to both the case and control groups. Results: The present study suggests that low self-esteem, unhealthy family functions and smoking are independent risk factors for self-injurious behavior. It has been found out that the adolescents who injure themselves more frequently and more seriously in the case group have lower self-esteem. It has been found out that the presence of self-injurious family member or friend does not create a significant difference in the Piers-Harris Children\'s Self-Concept Scale total point average of the adolescents in the case group. Besides, it has been revealed that alcohol consumption and smoking in the adolescents in the case group do not create a significant difference in the Piers-Harris Children\'s Self-Concept Scale total point averages. Discussion: There is a need for studies that assess the main factors related to the association of self-injurious behavior with smoking and self-esteem, and that determine the direction of causality between them. In our study, the findings that are related to family functions seem to suggest that self-injurious behavior in adolescents might be related to unhealthy family environment. This finding shows the importance of assessing family functions along with the characteristics of the adolescent and the family. [Anadolu Psikiyatri Derg 2014; 15(1.000): 69-76]