Journal of Shandong University (Health Sciences) ›› 2026, Vol. 64 ›› Issue (3): 55-64.doi: 10.6040/j.issn.1671-7554.0.2025.0645

• “Psychological Health in Children and Adolescents” Key Topics • Previous Articles    

Protective role of self-compassion in the relationships among parental psychological control, bullying victimization, and nonsuicidal self-injury in adolescents

CHANG Yuan, WANG Fan, WEN Ying, CHEN Guanghui   

  1. Faculty of Psychology, Shandong Normal University/Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Science and Mental Health, Jinan 250014, Shandong, China
  • Published:2026-03-19

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Abstract: Objective To investigate the negative effects of parental psychological control, bullying victimization, and their cumulative risk on nonsuicidal self-injury(NSSI)in adolescents and the moderating role of self-compassion in these relationships, so as to develop and test a self-compassion intervention program based on a mental health curriculum. Methods A total of 901 adolescents(from 7th to 11th grade)were surveyed with a questionnaire to investigate the relationships among parental psychological control, bullying victimization, and NSSI. The effectiveness of the self-developed self-compassion intervention program was evaluated using a cluster randomized controlled trial with 242 adolescents(8th grade). Results Both parental psychological control and bullying victimization positively predicted NSSI in adolescents, and combined exposure had a stronger effect on NSSI than either risk factor alone. Self-compassion negatively moderated the relationships among parental psychological control, bullying victimization, cumulative risk, and NSSI. The curriculum-based self-compassion intervention significantly increased the self-compassion of adolescents and decreased NSSI. Conclusion Parental psychological control, bullying victimization, and their cumulative effects are risk factors for NSSI in adolescents. Self-compassion mitigates the negative effects of parental psychological control and bullying victimization on NSSI. Furthermore, self-compassion intervention programs can effectively improve adolescents’ self-compassion and reduce NSSI.

Key words: Nonsuicidal self-injury, Parental psychological control, Bullying victimization, Self-compassion, Adolescents

CLC Number: 

  • B844.2
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