| This mixed methods study examines the phenomenon of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) for adolescents in Singapore. Quantitative data from the administration of the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation (FAMS; Lloyd, Kelley, & Hope, 1997), the Invalidating Childhood Environment Scale (ICES; Mountford, Corstorphine, Tomlinson, & Waller, 2007) and the Academic Expectations Stress Inventory (AESI; Ang & Huan, 2006) were analyzed to understand the functions of NSSI, the relationship of parental invalidation to NSSI, and the association between academic stress and parental invalidation. In addition, semistructured qualitative interviews were employed to provide supportive qualitative data. The participants are outpatients at the Child Guidance Clinic, Singapore, aged 13 to 19 years old. Thirty participants who engage in NSSI were compared with 30 participants who do not engage in NSSI. The emotional regulation function was the most commonly endorsed function for NSSI. Adolescents who engage in NSSI have statistically significant (p < .01) higher mean parental invalidation scores than those who do not engage in NSSI. There is also a moderate, positive correlation between the level of parent invalidation and the level of academic stress for Singaporean adolescents. |
