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Related Experiment Videos

Investigating the "self" in deliberate self-harm.

Joanna Adams1, Karen Rodham, Jeff Gavin

  • 1Child & Family Consultation Service, South Essex NHS Trust, United Kingdom.

Qualitative Health Research
|November 3, 2005
PubMed
Summary

Young individuals who self-harm seek validation to feel worthy. Online validation of their denied self may worsen self-harm behaviors, requiring further research into online forum impacts.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Online Behavior
  • Adolescent Health

Background:

  • Deliberate self-harm is a significant concern among young people.
  • Understanding the subjective experiences of self-harm is crucial for developing effective interventions.
  • Online platforms are increasingly used by young people for social interaction and identity exploration.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore how young people (aged 16-26) who engage in deliberate self-harm make sense of their self.
  • To investigate the role of validation in their self-perception.
  • To identify potential risks associated with online validation of self-harm behaviors.

Main Methods:

  • Qualitative study involving two online focus groups and four e-mail interviews.
  • Participants were young people aged 16-26 who identified with deliberate self-harm.
  • Data analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis.

Main Results:

  • Validation emerged as a key concept for making sense of the self, reflecting a desire for legitimacy and worth.
  • Conflicts surrounding validation were observed in three realms: intrinsic/extrinsic self, accepted/denied self, and the notion of normality.
  • The desire for validation was evident in how participants distinguished objective facts from subjective opinions.

Conclusions:

  • The pursuit of validation is central to the self-understanding of young people engaging in self-harm.
  • Online validation of a 'denied self' may potentially exacerbate self-harming behaviors.
  • Further research is necessary to understand the complex effects of online discussion forums on taboo behaviors like self-harm.

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