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Published on: October 28, 2020
Non-suicidal self-injury from the observer's perspective: a vignette study
Konrad Bresin1, Elizabeth Sand, Kathryn H Gordon
1Psychology Department, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 603 East Daniel Street, Champaign, IL 61820, USA. Konrad.Bresin@gmail.com
Summary
Friends and family can distinguish non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) from other harms. However, they may not understand NSSI functions but offer emotional support and prioritize safety.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a complex behavior with various underlying functions.
- Understanding how social support networks perceive and react to NSSI is crucial for intervention and care.
- Limited research exists on laypersons' understanding of NSSI motivations and appropriate responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how friends and family members perceive and respond to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI).
- To assess the ability of observers to differentiate NSSI from accidental injuries and suicide attempts.
- To explore observers' proposed responses based on different scenarios of NSSI disclosure.
Main Methods:
- College undergraduates were presented with fictional vignettes depicting NSSI.
- Participants were asked to infer the reasons behind the NSSI.
- Participants indicated their likely responses to the depicted situations.
Main Results:
- Participants could differentiate NSSI from accidental injury and suicide attempts.
- There was limited differentiation among the proposed functions of NSSI by participants.
- Direct observation of NSSI prompted safety-focused responses, while later disclosure led to emotional support offers.
Conclusions:
- Laypersons can identify NSSI but may lack a nuanced understanding of its diverse functions.
- Social support figures tend to prioritize immediate safety and offer emotional support in response to NSSI.
- Further education on the complexities of NSSI is needed to improve support systems.
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