Self-harm behaviors in adolescents and parental attachment

A scope review

Authors

  • Lucas Miranda Parente de Araújo Universidade de São Paulo https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9504-621X
  • Isabela Pizzarro Rebessi Universidade de São Paulo
  • Carmem Beatriz Neufeld Universidade de São Paulo

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23925/2594-3871.2025v34i2p270-293

Keywords:

Adolescente, Self-Harm, Self-Injurious Behavior, Attachment, Parenting

Abstract

The objective of this scope review was to investigate the relationships between self-harm behaviors in adolescence and attachment between parents and children. For this, articles related to the theme in english, portuguese and spanish; published in any period, with samples between 10 and 19 years old were included. Studies that associated self-harm with neurodevelopmental disorders; were case studies, literature reviews, theoretical articles or couldn’t be retrieved were excluded. Searches were conducted in six databases (Embase, Lilacs, PubMed, PsycNET, SciELO, Web of Science) and resulted in the selection of 13 articles. To extract and analyze the results, a data collection instrument was prepared and filled with general information about the publication of the articles, objectives, methodologies, samples, results, conclusions and a checklist to assess the quality and biases of the evidence. Data were categorized, discussed and a synthesis matrix was created. This review consistently identified direct or mediated relationships between self-harm behavior in adolescence and parental attachment, although the statistical pathways of this relationship and gender-related influences are unclear.

Author Biographies

Lucas Miranda Parente de Araújo, Universidade de São Paulo

Psychologist by FFCLRP-USP

Training in Cognitive Behavioral Therapies by Wainer Psicologia

Member of the Cognitive Behavioral Research and Intervention Laboratory
(LaPICC-USP)

Isabela Pizzarro Rebessi, Universidade de São Paulo

Psychologist by FFCLRP-USP (CRP 06/141115)

Master in Psychology from FFCLRP-USP

Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy by CETCC

Therapist Certified by the Brazilian Federation of Cognitive Therapies (FBTC)

Member of the Cognitive Behavioral Research and Intervention Laboratory
(LaPICC-USP)

Carmem Beatriz Neufeld, Universidade de São Paulo

Associate Professor in Psychology at USP. Post-Doctorate in Psychology at UFRJ. Doctor and
Master in Psychology from PUCRS. Coordinator of the Research Laboratory and
Cognitive-Behavioral Intervention – LaPICC-USP. Professor at the Department of
Psychology at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Ribeirão Preto da
University of Sao Paulo. President of the Latin American Association of
Cognitive and Behavioral Psychotherapies – ALAPCCO. CNPq Productivity Scholarship.

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Published

2026-01-27

How to Cite

Araújo, L. M. P. de, Rebessi, I. P., & Neufeld, C. B. (2026). Self-harm behaviors in adolescents and parental attachment: A scope review. Psicologia Revista, 34(2), 270–293. https://doi.org/10.23925/2594-3871.2025v34i2p270-293

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Section

Revisões da Literatura