Seeing us Beyond the Cuts: Young Women’s Perspectives on the Meaning of their Non-Suicidal Self-Harm

Abstract The recently increasing discourse on agency among young women refers to their ability to feel in control of their bodies and their environments. However, qualitative exploration of agency among young women engaging in non-suicidal self-harm (NSSI) remains scarce. This study employed a qualitative phenomenological approach with this population, utilizing semi-structured interviews with sixteen young women aged 18–26 who had previously engaged in NSSI. The interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis yielded two overarching themes: (1) Reasons for NSSI and (2) The Dynamics of NSSI. The first theme, Reasons for NSSI, includes six sub-themes: Using NSSI as a tool for coping, the need for control, self-punishment, the need to feel, a sense of helplessness, and using NSSI as a form of communication. The second theme, The Dynamics of NSSI, comprises three sub-themes: Efforts to hide NSSI, the role of social media in learning and connecting around NSSI, and the development of a compulsive urge to NSSI. Together, these themes illuminate both the meaning participants attributed to NSSI and the ways in which the behavior developed and was sustained. In contrast to previous research that emphasizes the negative aspects of NSSI, the current findings reveal multifaceted perspectives on this behavior. Specifically, they underscore the importance of recognizing the agency these young women demonstrate while simultaneously acknowledging NSSI’s potentially harmful aspects. Therefore, addressing NSSI requires recognizing its nuances and supporting young women who experience it. Further implications are discussed below.