The Disclosure of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Qualitative Dyadic Study

Objectives: The disclosure of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can be critical in facilitating recovery and preventing future NSSI, thus understanding the disclosure process is important. However, the disclosure of NSSI has traditionally been studied through an individual perspective, which falls short of capturing its true interpersonal nature. To address this gap, the current study aimed to qualitatively explore the experience of NSSI disclosure from both the discloser and their recipient’s perspectives. Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 12 dyads ( N = 24, age = 18–45, 78% female) and analysed data using the framework method. Results: Seven themes were present across three stages of the disclosure process: the antecedent factors (relational factors, function of disclosures, anticipated reactions), the disclosure event (social reaction, emotional experience), and the perceived outcome of the disclosure (relational impact, intrapersonal growth). Conclusion: The findings position NSSI disclosures as a relational process wherein disclosers and recipients continuously draw on interpersonal factors to interpret and find meaning in their experiences with the disclosure. The insights from the current study offer important clinical implications for improving support in informal contexts, extend theoretical models of disclosure by accounting for dyadic processes, and demonstrate the methodological value of capturing the disclosure experience from a dyadic perspective.