Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract: (10 Views)
Aims: The present study was conducted to investigate family dynamics in adolescents with a history of self- Injurious behaviors. Method: The research method was qualitative and based on phenomenology. The target population consisted of adolescents with self-harming behaviors in Tehran in 2024 who had referred to counseling and psychological service centers. In order to conduct this study, 20 adolescents were selected through purposive sampling based on the principle of theoretical saturation. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis was performed using the Braun and Clark (2006) thematic analysis method and the extracted themes were organized and summarized in the form of main and sub-themes. Results: The interviews were summarized at three levels of primary concepts (178 concepts), sub-themes, and main themes, which were divided into three main themes; The first main theme (positive family dynamics) included 13 sub-themes, the second main theme (negative family dynamics) included 27 sub-themes, and the third main theme (role of the extended family) included 4 sub-themes. Conclusion: Based on the research findings, in the lived experience of adolescents with self-injurious behaviors, family dynamics are experienced in diverse and sometimes contradictory ways. Some participants spoke of the existence of supportive interactions, favorable emotional connections, and aspects of positive family functioning, while others described family conflicts, dysfunctional communication patterns, and negative experiences in the family. Also, in the participants' experience, the extended family was also presented in some cases as a source of support and in some cases as part of challenging family dynamics. It is worth noting that observing some positive dynamics in families does not mean ignoring or downplaying self-harming behaviors, and this study merely describes the dynamics experienced by participants and does not make any judgments about the impact or causal relationship of these dynamics with self-harming behaviors.
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