Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Lecturer of community health nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
2
Assistant professor of psychiatric mental health nursing, faculty of nursing, Cairo university. Egypt, Assistant professor of psychiatric mental health nursing, College of nursing, jouf university. Saudi Arabia.
3
Professor of Maternal and new born health nursing, faculty of nursing, Cairo university. Egypt Assistant professor of Maternal and child health nursing, College of nursing, jouf university. Saudi Arabia
4
Assistant professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt.
5
Assistant professor of Community Health Nursing, Faculty of Nursing, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt. Assistant professor of Community Health Nursing, Misr University for Science and Technology, Giza, Egypt.
10.21608/ejhc.2025.466228
Abstract
Background: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) in adolescence is a growing global concern, yet evidence from Middle Eastern contexts remains limited. This study estimated the prevalence of DSH and examined its associations with parenting styles among Egyptian secondary school students, taking into account socio-demographic factors and testing both direct and indirect pathways. Methods: A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted with 410 students aged 16–20 years selected via multistage stratified random sampling from governmental schools in Egypt. Participants completed a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Parental Treatment Styles Scale (authoritative, authoritarian, permissive, neglectful), and a validated Self-Harm Scale capturing four domains (physical, emotional, self-neglect, self-deprivation). Analyses comprised group comparisons, Pearson correlations, multivariable linear regression, and path analysis to estimate direct and indirect effects. Results: DSH prevalence was 28.3%. Authoritative parenting was most common, yet authoritarian and neglectful styles were significantly associated with higher overall DSH and multiple domain-specific harms, whereas authoritative parenting showed a protective association. In adjusted models, older age, male sex, and lower socioeconomic status predicted higher DSH scores. Path analysis indicated a significant direct effect of authoritarian parenting on DSH, with additional indirect effects operating through socio-demographic pathways; authoritative parenting demonstrated protective direct effects.Conclusions: Authoritarian and neglectful parenting styles are linked to higher risk of adolescent deliberate self-harm in Egypt, while authoritative parenting serves as a protective factor. The findings highlight the need for culturally sensitive prevention strategies that promote authoritative parenting and school-based coping programs, especially targeting boys, older adolescents, and socioeconomically disadvantaged youth
Keywords
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