Identifying Indicators of Self-Harming Behaviors Based on the Phenomenology of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury in Adolescent Girls

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore and identify the indicators of self-harming behaviors through a phenomenological examination of the lived experiences of adolescent girls with a history of non-suicidal self-injury. This research employed a qualitative phenomenological design, focusing on thirty female students in lower secondary schools in District 12 of Tehran during the 2023–2024 academic year. Participants were selected using purposive sampling, with data collection continuing until theoretical saturation was achieved. Data were gathered through semi-structured, in-depth interviews lasting between 20 and 45 minutes and recorded with participants’ consent. The interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis. The coding process involved open, axial, and selective stages, allowing for the identification of overarching, organizing, and basic themes. To ensure validity and reliability, the interview framework was reviewed by experts, and reproducibility of codes was assessed using test–retest methods and intraclass correlation coefficients. The analysis revealed four overarching themes: experiences and feelings related to self-harm, triggering and underlying factors, the role and function of self-harm in daily life, and attitudes toward the future and change. Adolescents described self-harm as simultaneously painful and relieving, serving as a temporary coping mechanism and a form of non-verbal communication. Psychological factors such as anxiety, depression, and self-criticism, alongside social triggers like family conflict and peer rejection, emerged as key drivers. Self-harm functioned as both an emotional regulation strategy and an indirect request for help. Ambivalence toward change was evident, with adolescents expressing both hope for recovery and fear of entrapment in repetitive cycles. The findings highlight the multifaceted nature of non-suicidal self-injury among adolescent girls, emphasizing its emotional, social, and identity-related dimensions. Understanding these phenomenological indicators provides valuable insight for designing culturally sensitive interventions that address both individual vulnerabilities and systemic risk factors.