| Abstract [eng] |
NSSI is an important societal problem. Young adults who have experienced ACEs are a particularly vulnerable group for the onset of NSSI. Despite the seriousness of NSSI, knowledge about its onset, development, and cessation is limited. Thus, the aim of this study is to uncover and describe the experiences of NSSI onset, development, and cessation of individuals who have experienced ACEs. This study involved 6 young adult women (21–25 years old) who had experienced ACEs and had used NSSI during their lives but who had not used NSSI for at least 2 years. A semi-structured interview was used for data collection, and the method of reflexive thematic analysis was used for data analysis. The results of the study reveal that young adult women may experience the onset of NSSI as related to the experience of ACEs, difficulties in emotion regulation and lack of skills to overcome them, lack of support in the immediate environment, inability to share internal experiences in the family context, and the experience of NSSI as a learned and safer coping strategy. The development of NSSI is experienced as dynamic and shaped by various internal and external experiences. The process of overcoming NSSI is experienced as lonely, extremely difficult, or as occurring naturally or suddenly, related to the attitudes towards NSSI, seeking help, developing alternative coping strategies, and significant changes in life. Finally, after NSSI cessation, one may experience regret and shame or experience one's NSSI as not very serious. On the other hand, one may also experience a positive meaning of the NSSI experience – method that helped one survive ACEs and contributed to personal growth. |
