How Do Young Women Perceive Adult Responses to the Disclosure of Their Self-Harm and What Is the Impact of That Perception

Bibliographic Data

ID15473861
AuthorsDemee Rheinberger (0000-0002-4493-8565, Black Dog Institute, corresponding author), Isabel Mahony (University of Technology Sydney), Anastasia Hronis (0000-0001-6489-0231, University of Technology Sydney), Samantha Tang (0000-0001-5178-3816, Black Dog Institute), Hans Christensen (0000-0003-0435-2065, Black Dog Institute), Fiona Shand (0000-0001-6765-228X, Black Dog Institute), Alexis E Whitton (0000-0002-7944-2172, Black Dog Institute), Katherine Boydell (0000-0002-1464-8532, Black Dog Institute), Aimy Slade (0000-0001-5368-1792, Black Dog Institute), Alison L Calear (0000-0002-7028-725X, Australian National University)
Year2025
Volume22
Issue12
Pages1879-1879
Publication date2025-12-17
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph22121879
PMID41464512
OpenAlexW4417453488
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited45

Rates of self-harm amongst young women are rising. However, only half of individuals disclose self-harm, and when they do, they may be met with responses that can be harmful or helpful to recovery. The aim of the current study is to understand how young women perceive adult (e.g., parents, health professionals) responses to their self-harm disclosures, and the impact these responses have on them. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with young women (N = 27, M age = 20.9, SD = 2.1) reporting a history of self-harm. Reflexive thematic analysis was used to analyse the data, with three main themes generated: (1) the young woman's needs were diminished, (2) the confidant's response was not attuned to their needs, and (3) the confidant's response was attuned to their needs. The first theme reflects responses that felt dismissive or elicited feelings of discomfort or shame. The second theme captures responses that failed to resonate with the participant's needs or were unhelpful or invalidating. The third theme represents responses that elicited feelings of being cared for or validated. Future interventions could focus on educating parents and health professionals about the best approaches to responding to self-harm disclosures that promote future disclosure and recovery

Feeling · Focus group · Psychological intervention · Reflexivity · Thematic analysis · Theme (computing · Young adult · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Suicide and Self-Harm Studies