The social context of nonsuicidal self-injury: Links to severity, suicide risk, and social factors

Objectives Though nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) is generally considered to be a private act, 21%-52% of individuals who engage in NSSI do so around others. Those who engage in NSSI alone often demonstrate severe behavior. However, little is known about the distinction between those who only sometimes versus always engage in NSSI when they are around others. Three groups of individuals who engage in NSSI were examined: Always, sometimes, and never alone. Method Participants (N = 861; 84.2% female; M age = 20.06) were undergraduates who answered online questionnaires. Severity of NSSI, suicide risk, and social risk factors were used to predict group membership. Results Engaging in NSSI around others aligned with less severe NSSI behavior, lower suicide risk, and fewer interpersonal difficulties versus those who engage in NSSI alone. Conclusions NSSI's social context may indicate clinical severity. This information is useful for clinicians who work with individuals with a history of NSSI.