Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional harming of one’s bodily tissues in the absence of suicidal intent. NSSI is often comorbid with mental illness, yet few interventions are designed specifically to target NSSI (Min et al., 2021)
Personalized feedback interventions (PFIs) were originally designed to target the social norms and associated with adolescent substance use. An adapted version of PFIs were proposed to treat individuals engaging in NSSI, since self-harming behaviours can be peer-influenced. PFI development relies on understanding and altering the descriptive and injunctive norms an individual associates with the targeted behaviour. Descriptive norms refer to the social perceptions surrounding the behaviour, while injunctive norms describe the behaviour’s social acceptability.
Min et al. studied the descriptive and injunctive norms surrounding NSSI by surveying college students and adults both with and without history of NSSI. Results demonstrated that all participants over-assumed the lifetime prevalence of people who engaged in NSSI, but participants with a history of NSSI had a greater over-assumption than participants without NSSI history. All participants generally disapproved of NSSI engagement, and although all participants reported understanding why someone might engage in NSSI, participants with a history of NSSI tended to report high levels of perceived social judgement following behaviour enactment.
Researchers hope to use this information to design PFIs that reduce NSSI use by providing accurate social information. Min et al. pointed out that although social education interventions have been effective for substance use, misuse and misrepresentation of facts may contribute to stigma and shameful emotions for individuals who use NSSI.
Citation:
Min, J., Lopez, S. V., Dunn, D. S., Leffingwell, T. R., & Mullins-Sweatt, S. N. (2021). Understanding perceptions of nonsuicidal self-injury: Descriptive and injunctive norms. Psychiatric Quarterly. https://doi-org.ezproxy.library.uvic.ca/10.1007/s11126-021-09933-8
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