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Autism and Developmental Disorders
2025. Vol. 23, no. 4, 32–44
doi:10.17759/autdd.2025230404
ISSN: 1994-1617 / 2413-4317 (online)

Trust deficit in parent-child relationships as a factor in reduced resilience among individuals with self-harm

 
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Abstract

Context and relevance. Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is widespread among adolescents and young adults. It serves as a means of regulating emotional tension and is also a marker of psychological distress and a predictor of suicide risk. The study is grounded in John Bowlby’s attachment theory, which posits that the quality of parent—child relationships influence the development of adaptive coping strategies under stress. Objective. To examine the role of trust within parental attachment, its association with NSSI, and how these factors relate to personal resilience. Hypothesis. Low trust and high alienation in relationships with parents are associated with a higher risk of NSSI and lower resilience. Methods and materials. The study included 111 participants (aged 18—25 years; 90.1% female) who reported NSSI episodes within the past six months. Measures included the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (Armsden & Greenberg), the Self-Injury Motives Scale (N.A. Polskaya), and the Personal Resilience measure (A.A. Nesterova). Data were analysed using correlation analysis and Student’s t-test. Results. Attachment and NSSI: Trust in mothers and fathers was negatively correlated with NSSI (r = –0.338 and r = –0.368, respectively; p < 0.01). Alienation from parents was positively associated with NSSI (r = 0.245 for mothers and r = 0.403 for fathers; p < 0.01). Resilience: Trust in mothers was positively correlated with emotional regulation (r = 0.329) and social competence (r = 0.419; p < 0.01). Alienation from parents was associated with lower resilience (r = –0.422 for mothers; p < 0.05). Peer relationships showed no significant differences, highlighting the key role of parental attachment. Conclusions. Trust in parents appears to be a protective factor against NSSI and is associated with higher resilience. Disruptions in parent — child relationships (low trust and high alienation) are linked to an increased risk of maladaptive behavior.

General Information

Keywords: non-suicidal self-injury, attachment, trust, resilience, adolescents, young adults

Journal rubric: Developmental disorders research

Article type: scientific article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/autdd.2025230404

Funding. The study was conducted without financial support.

Acknowledgements. The authors are grateful for assistance in data collection M.V. Marfina.

Received 14.08.2025

Revised 10.10.2025

Accepted

Published

For citation: Stoyanova, I.Ya., Li, L.S. (2025). Trust deficit in parent-child relationships as a factor in reduced resilience among individuals with self-harm. Autism and Developmental Disorders, 23(4), 32–44. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/10.17759/autdd.2025230404

© Stoyanova I.Ya., Li L.S., 2025

License: CC BY-NC 4.0

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Information About the Authors

Irina Y. Stoyanova, Doctor of Psychology, Professor, Professor, Department of Psychotherapy and Counseling, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2483-9604, e-mail: ithka1948@mail.ru

Lyudmila S. Li, Postgraduate Student, Department of Psychotherapy and Psychological Counseling, National Research Tomsk State University, Tomsk, Russian Federation, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-5592-102X, e-mail: rudenko.s8@mail.ru

Contribution of the authors

Irina Y. Stoyanova — research concept; manuscript writing and editing; research supervision.

Lyudmila S. Li — research concept; study design; data collection and analysis; application of statistical, mathematical, and other data analysis methods; manuscript writing and editing.

All authors participated in the discussion of the results and approved the final text of the manuscript. 

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest. 

Ethics statement

Data collection was conducted with informed voluntary consent for participation, ensuring the right to anonymity of provided data and the freedom to withdraw from the study at any stage of data collection upon the respondent’s request. 

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