In a qualitative study of parental influence on and response to self-cutting of adolescents in Hong Kong, findings showed an unhappy childhood because of overdemanding parental expectation, parent–child conflicts, and marital discord. Supportive parents helped children to resolve frustration and interpersonal conflicts behind self-cutting behaviors. However, some parents, overwhelmed with guilt, frustration, incapability, and anxiety in dealing with their children's self-cutting, might overreact and provoke further cutting.
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