Public attitudes and knowledge about self-injury: A cross-sectional web-based survey of Japanese adults

Nonsuicidal self-injury is common among adolescents. Dispelling related public misconceptions is essential for creating effective prevention and intervention strategies, as these myths contribute to stigmatization. This study examined the prevalence of self-injury myths among the Japanese public and explored how demographics and personal experiences influence these beliefs.

A nationwide web-based self-report survey of 2000 Japanese adults (mean age = 44.6 ± 14.3 years) examined their agreement with 14 scientifically unsupported self-injury beliefs. Endorsement rates for each myth were calculated, and the associations between myth beliefs and other variables were explored.

Fourteen myths were analyzed, with endorsement rates of 21.0%-68.7%. Logistic regression analysis indicated that men were more likely to endorse the myth that self-injury is uncommon (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 1.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.17-1.79), whereas women were more prone to myths about the rarity of self-injury, using a single method, stimulation as the exclusive purpose, wrist-cutting prevalence, and average onset age. Younger participants were more likely to believe that self-injury is solely for stimulation than other age groups. Those with human-service professional experience were more likely to view self-injury as attention-seeking compared to those without such experience (AOR = 1.62, 95% CI = 1.07-2.46). With some exceptions, individuals who expressed confidence in their ability to respond to self-injurers were more likely to endorse the myths.

These findings highlight the need for targeted educational interventions to dispel misconceptions about self-injury and improve public understanding of this complex behavior.