Harsh parenting and non-suicidal self-injury in adolescence: the mediating effect of depressive symptoms and the moderating effect of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism

Abstract

Background Previous studies have suggested that negative parenting environments, especially harsh parenting, are a specific risk factor for non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI). However, the potential mechanism between harsh parenting and NSSI has not been explored. Based on the experiential avoidance model and empirical research, we aimed to examine whether depressive symptoms are a mediator between harsh parenting and NSSI. Moreover, the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism related to depressive symptoms may also exert a moderating effect on NSSI; thus, the interaction between harsh parenting and COMT was also considered in our study. Methods A total of 373 junior high school students were recruited for the study by using a longitudinal design. The adolescents answered self-report questionnaires and provided saliva samples for DNA genotyping. Results The results revealed that harsh parenting was positively associated with NSSI after 24 months, and this association was mediated by depressive symptoms. Moreover, the moderating role of COMT in the direct and indirect effects of harsh parenting on NSSI was observed only among adolescents with two Val alleles and the relationship was not significant for Met carriers. Conclusions Genetic variations of COMT Val158Met may be a critical candidate in understanding the development of depression and NSSI. We conclude that Val homozygotes of the COMT Val158Met polymorphism play a role in susceptibility to both depressive symptoms and NSSI.

Parent-Adolescent Conflict, Depressive Symptoms, and Non-Suicidal Self-Injury among Chinese Adolescents: The Moderating Effect of the COMT Gene rs4680 Polymorphism

“…Particularly, among adolescents with Val/Val genotype but not Met allele, parent-adolescent conflict allows a significantly positive prediction of depressive symptoms. This result is consistent with previous research that adolescents with Val/Val homozygotes may be more susceptible to negative family environments, which, in turn, may trigger depressive symptoms [ 15 , 29 ]. In a high level of parent-adolescent conflict, negative interactions with parents can affect subcortical limbic regions associated with emotional reactivity [ 48 ] and thus develop depressive symptoms.…”

“…Moreover, Valencia-Agudo et al retrieved 39 studies on NSSI indicated that depressive symptoms is observed to prospectively predict future NSSI [ 13 ]. Furthermore, preliminary research suggested that depressive symptoms played an important mediating role between family risk factors (e.g., parental rejection, harsh parenting) and adolescent NSSI [ 14 , 15 , 16 ]. A longitudinal research by Zhu et al, with a sample of 1987 Chinese adolescents, found that parental rejection predicted adolescents NSSI six months later through depressive symptoms [ 14 ].…”

“…Kotyuk et al also found that rs4680 Met/Met genotype significantly associated with lower neuroticism level [ 27 ]. Previous studies have reported that rs4680 polymorphism interacts with the environment to influence mood dysregulation [ 28 ] and adolescents’ NSSI [ 15 ]. Sheikh and his colleagues showed the interaction effect between rs4680 and life stress on anxiety symptoms [ 28 ].…”

“…Analogously, a previous study also found a significant alleviative effect of the Met allele on depression in the children with institutional care experience [ 29 ]. Liu et al, in a three way longitudinal study, emphasized that rs4680 moderated the relationship between harsh parenting and adolescents NSSI and the link between harsh parenting and depressive symptoms [ 15 ]. Particularly, adolescents with the Val/Val genotype showed more depressive symptoms and at a higher risk for NSSI when they experienced more harsh parenting, and appeared less depressed and at a lower risk for NSSI when experiencing lenient parenting.…”

The Role of Mindfulness in Mitigating the Detrimental Effects of Harsh Parenting among Chinese Adolescents: Testing a Moderated Mediation Model in a Three-Wave Study

“…First, by confirming the detrimental effects of harsh parenting on adolescents’ depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation, we provide evidence that educators should not only pay attention to adolescents’ mental health but also focus more on parenting styles and help parents recognize the influence of their style of parenting on the parent–child relationship [ 20 , 85 ]. Several strategies could be used to prevent harsh parenting by Chinese parents.…”