https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.12301
“It’s not avoiding anything”: Exploring avoidance in the context of non-suicidal self-injury
Submitted: 22 January 2024
Accepted: 25 June 2024
Published: 3 October 2024
Accepted: 25 June 2024
Abstract Views: 1025
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
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Non-suicidal self-injury is a concerning and prevalent behavior, particularly among adolescents and university students. Most theoretical models focus on the role avoidance plays in self-injury but, there is no consensus on what is being avoided. The aim of this study was to gain insight from individuals with lived experience of self-injury to better understand the role of avoidance in NSSI. Thirtyfive interviews were conducted with individuals with lived experience of NSSI (18 – 44 years) and analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Three themes were developed to address our aim: active not passive; a short term distraction; externalizing inner turmoil. Our analysis suggests that avoidance is not a term that resonates with individuals with lived experience of NSSI. The theoretical and methodological implications of these findings are that we need to use language that resonates with individuals with lived experience and improve the way avoidance is conceptualized.
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Supporting Agencies
Research Training Program (RTP) Scholarship from Curtin University, National Health and Medical Research Council Australia (Investigator Grant 1173043)How to Cite
Haywood, Sophie, Penelope Hasking, and Mark Boyes. 2024. “‘It’s Not Avoiding anything’: Exploring Avoidance in the Context of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury”. Qualitative Research in Medicine and Healthcare 8 (s1). https://doi.org/10.4081/qrmh.2024.12301.
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