Perceived Social Support and Adolescent Self-Harm: The Dominant Protective Role of Family Support

Abstract

Adolescence is a developmental period associated with increased vulnerability to maladaptive coping strategies, including self-harming behavior. Given the importance of interpersonal relationships during this stage, the present study examined the association between perceived social support and self-harming behavior, with a focus on the predictive role of different sources of support and the moderating effect of gender. The sample consisted of 155 adolescents aged 12–18 years. Perceived social support was measured using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and self-harming behavior was assessed using a modified version of the Self-Harm Inventory. The results showed a significant negative association between perceived social support and self-harming behavior, indicating that higher levels of perceived support are linked to lower levels of self-harm (r = -0.38, p < 0.001). Among specific sources of support, family support demonstrated the strongest relationship (r = -0.45, p < 0.001). Regression analysis confirmed that perceived social support significantly predicted self-harming behavior, explaining approximately 18,3% of its variance, with family support emerging as the only significant predictor when all sources were considered simultaneously. The moderating effect of gender was not statistically significant. These findings highlight the important protective role of perceived social support – particularly within the family context – in reducing self-harming behavior in adolescence and underscore its relevance for understanding maladaptive coping during this developmental period. They further suggest that psychological interventions should prioritize strengthening supportive family relationships and enhancing adolescents’ perception and effective use of available social support.