Beneath the surface: clinical and psychosocial correlates of posting nonsuicidal self-injury content online among female young adults

Abstract

While posting self-injurious content online has skyrocketed over the past decade and is a salient concern among mental health professionals, the stigma surrounding these postings is still prevalent. This study aimed to reduce the stigma by investigating the clinical and psychosocial correlates of posting nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) content online. The study participants comprised 249 women who had engaged in five or more episodes of NSSI in the past 12 months. Among them, 67 had posted NSSI content online (NSSI Online), whereas 182 did not (NSSI Only). The two groups were compared using the MANCOVA analysis based on demographic data and clinical and psychosocial features. Additionally, Spearman's correlation and multiple linear regression analyses were used to investigate potential risk factors associated with NSSI postings. Compared to the NSSI Only group, the NSSI Online group showed higher intrapersonal functions of NSSI, self-injury craving, suicidal ideation, and past suicide attempts, along with lower resilience and self-esteem. The clinical risk factor, suicidal ideation, was closely associated with the frequency of these postings. The results suggest that posting NSSI content online is not an attention-seeking behavior, but rather an act that warrants clinical attention. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd