Parents’ information needs in relation to adolescent self-harm, 2022

The main aim of this research was to explore the information needs of parents supporting an adolescent who has engaged in self-harm. The research also aimed to gain a better understanding of parental preferences for accessing this information (e.g. online, via SMS message, leaflets). The study used a cross-sectional quantitative design and data was collected online via Qualtrics. Survey items were generated from a rapid review of previous research on the information needs of parents of adolescents who self-harm. Participants were recruited via social media. The data set includes parents’ (N=128; 115 female) ratings of the importance of 37 information topics derived from the rapid review of the literature. All participating parents indicated that they had personal experience of supporting an adolescent who self-harmed. In addition to ratings of each of the information topics, parents rated the ways in which they would like to access the data (e.g. online v leaflets) and who they would trust to provide the information (e.g. MH professionals, health services). The dataset also includes demographic details from each participant in relation to themselves and their adolescent as well as their responses to the Parental Attitudes Toward Psychological Services Inventory (PATPSI). The survey also included detailed demographic questions, capturing information both about the participants and their adolescents.