Abstract
Skin picking is a common Body Focused Repetitive Behavior (BFRB) in which individuals pick at their skin resulting in injury to healthy skin areas. The purpose of this study was to examine family functioning and parent responses in relation to adolescents with skin picking disorder. Specifically, this study explored (1) how family functioning is understood from both the adolescent and parent perspectives in families with an adolescent who engages in skin picking, 2) identified parent responses to the skin picking behaviors, and 3) sought to understand how the child felt about different parent responses to their skin picking. This study utilized a Consensual Qualitative Research design (CQR) to explore the research aims. Data analysis revealed 12 domains or themes; with 4 themes focused on for the purpose of this dissertation. The findings from this study provide increased information about the lived experience for an adolescent who engages in skin picking and how that affects family dynamics. This study found that parents are utilizing various interventions in an attempt to decrease skin picking behaviors. In response to this, this study found that a majority of adolescents in the study report disliking the interventions their parents are suggesting. Furthermore, findings from this study suggest that a vicious cycle occurs with family affecting skin picking and skin picking affecting the family. The discussion section will compare the findings to past literature, provide clinical implications, highlight strengths and limitations, and emphasize future directions.