Trans young people’s experiences of nonsuicidal self-injury

What is it about?

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the intentional damage to one’s own body without the intent of suicide. NSSI is particularly common among trans young people. These young people often face a lot of stress because of things like transphobia, body image concerns, and gender dysphoria (feeling distressed because their gender identity is different from the sex presumed for them at birth). To cope with these pressures, some turn to NSSI to manage difficult emotions. While NSSI refers to self-injury without the intention of suicide, the behaviour is associated with increased risk of future suicide attempts. This study looked at the experiences of 20 transgender individuals aged 14 to 25 in Australia who engage in NSSI. Researchers used interviews to understand why they self-injure and how it affects them. They found several important themes: (1) Dealing with double stigma: Trans individuals often face discrimination both for being trans and for self-injuring. (2) The need for self-actualisation: Many participants talked about wanting to be themselves and express their gender identity despite societal pressures. (3) Battling with the body: Gender dysphoria and societal standards can lead to negative feelings about their bodies, which can worsen their self-injury. (4) Transition as a turning point: Transitioning to align their appearance with their gender identity can be empowering but also a challenging time emotionally. (5) Lack of control: They described feeling powerless against societal expectations that don't recognize or accept them. This study highlights how societal norms and discrimination can lead trans young people to self-injure. Understanding these experiences can help create better support systems to improve their well-being and resilience.

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Photo by Lena Balk on Unsplash

Photo by Lena Balk on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This research is important because it sheds light on some of the specific challenges trans young people face that contribute to their NSSI. By exploring the experiences of our participants, we can increase public awareness and understanding of this behaviour. Generating this understanding advances our knowledge of this issue and adds valuable insights to the literature, potentially informing further research in this area. In addition, understanding the issue may be a first step toward developing interventions and support strategies targeting the behaviour. By understanding the factors underlying NSSI among trans young people, interventions can be tailored to address these specific needs. Clinicians, families, school staff, or anybody supporting a trans young person who self-injures may also find this research a useful tool for understanding what the young person may be going through and how best to help them. This may result not only in a reduction in self-injury, but in improved mental health overall.

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