Development and validation of the preparedness to disclose non-suicidal self-injury scale

Abstract The disclosure of nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) can be a critical step in recovery by enabling access to social support, clinical intervention, and emotional validation. However, little is known about the psychological and contextual factors that shape individuals’ decisions to disclose NSSI. The present study developed and provided initial validation for the Preparedness to Disclose Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Scale (PDNS), a novel measure designed to assess individuals’ psychological readiness to disclose their experiences of NSSI. Seventy-five preliminary items were administered to 675 university students (77% female; M = 22.20 years, SD = 4.83), 64% of whom had previously disclosed their NSSI. Principal axis factoring revealed a three-factor structure (Self-Efficacy to Disclose, Interpersonal Motives, and Situational Readiness). The five highest loading items on each factor were retained, resulting in a 15-item scale that reliably differentiated individuals who had disclosed from those who had not. Evidence of measurement invariance across individuals who had or had not disclosed their NSSI supported the robustness and generalisability of the PDNS. Correlations with measures of theoretically related constructs provided support for the scale’s convergent and discriminant validity. These findings indicate that preparedness to disclose NSSI is a dynamic, multifaceted process shaped by social-cognitive factors. The PDNS provides a psychometrically sound tool for research and clinical practice, offering a framework to support safe and adaptive disclosure experiences among individuals who self-injure.