Abstract Book of the 10th World Conference on Social Sciences and Humanities
Year: 2026
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Low Self-Esteem and Self-Harm in Adolescence: Examining the Mediating Function of Perceived Social Support
Prof. Dr. Slavka Demuthova, Kristin Benova
ABSTRACT:
Self-harm during adolescence represents a growing public health concern and has been linked to multiple psychological vulnerabilities, including diminished self-esteem. However, the interpersonal mechanisms through which self-esteem influences self-harming behavior remain insufficiently understood. The present study aimed to investigate whether perceived social support serves as a mediating factor in the relationship between adolescents’ self-esteem and engagement in self-harm. The study included 155 adolescents aged between 13 and 18 years (M = 16.35, SD = 1.73). Self-esteem was assessed using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, self-harm using a modified version of the Self-Harm Inventory, and perceived social support using the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support. Statistical analyses included nonparametric correlations, linear regression, and mediation analysis. Results indicated that 53.5% of participants reported repeated involvement in self-harming behaviors. Adolescents who engaged in self-harm demonstrated significantly lower levels of both self-esteem and perceived social support compared to those without such experiences. Self-esteem showed a significant negative association with self-harm (ρ = −.508, p < .001) and emerged as a significant predictor, explaining approximately 22% of the variance in self-harming behavior. Mediation analysis further revealed that perceived social support partially explained this relationship. Specifically, lower levels of self-esteem were associated with weaker perceptions of available social support, which in turn were linked to increased self-harm. The indirect effect was statistically significant (B = −0.31, 95% BootCI [−0.63, −0.09]). These findings underscore the importance of interpersonal resources in understanding adolescent self-harm and highlight perceived social support as a potential protective factor in prevention and intervention efforts.
Keywords: Self-Harming Behavior; Self-Esteem; Perceived Social Support; Psychosocial Risk Factors; Adolescence