Investigating self‐concept in self‐harm: A repertory grid study

Abstract

Objectives. The way that individuals perceive themselves and others may be relevant in understanding difficulties with self-harm. Repertory grids provide a relatively underutilized means of investigating self-concept in people who self-harm. This study aimed to examine the association between self-concept, captured through a repertory grid method, and self-harm.Method. Ninety-eight participants with a history of self-harm took part in the study. A repertory grid was used to derive distances between four elements ('current self', 'ideal self', 'self-harming self', and 'others who self-harm'). Associations between these distances and measures of self-harm behaviour, well-being and perceived recovery, were estimated.Results. Repertory grid distances were significantly associated with self-harm. When adjusting for covariates, self-harm in the past year was positively associated with a greater distance (or less perceived similarity) between current and ideal self, and a smaller distance (greater perceived similarity) between current self and others who self-harm. Repertory grid distances were also associated with well-being and perceived recovery.Conclusions. The results are consistent with the idea that self-perception is associated with self-harm and related difficulties. The results also highlight the potential utility of repertory grids as a tool for exploring self-concept. The cross-sectional nature of the study precludes inferences about directionality or the temporal characteristics of associations. Practitioner pointsMore recent experiences of self-harm may be reflected in the way individuals perceive or construe themselves.The way in which individuals who self-harm perceive or construe themselves may also be related to their current well-being and perceived recovery.Repertory grids may be a useful tool in clinical practice for investigating self-concept in those who selfharm.Repertory grids may provide a more idiographic, clinical outcome assessment in those who self-harm.

Understanding the self in nonsuicidal self-injury: A conceptual review and framework for future research

“…Finally, recent work on self-concept content and NSSI has utilized repertory grid analysis (i.e., an analytic technique examining participants' perceived similarities across constructs via 'distances' within construed space) to examine NSSI in relation to peoples' perceptions of their current self, ideal self, identification of oneself as someone who self-injures, and identification with others who self-injure (Taylor, Usher, Jomar, & Forrester, 2020). NSSI recency (within the past year) was associated with less perceived similarity between one's current and ideal self, as well as greater similarity between one's current self and others with NSSI.…”

Identity, self-blame, and body regard in NSSI: A test of moderated-mediation

“…An unstable sense of self may contribute to more negative self-perceptions as studies have found associations between poor SCC and lower self-esteem (an affective evaluation of self) and reduced self-certainty [ 75 , 76 ], which are theorized to leave individuals vulnerable to negative self-appraisals. Recent work has also shown connections between poor SCC and NSSI [ 57 , 65 , 66 ]. In a sample of 147 college students, Lear and Pepper [ 39 ] found that NSSI engagement and severity was associated with lower SCC.…”

Tattoos in Psychodermatology

“…Moreover, extroverted, risk-taking, aggressive, and outgoing players with tattoos were shown to be more successful in forward positions than those in defensive positions [34]. Nevertheless, in both men and women, tattooing accentuates their own sexual perceptions about sexual attractiveness and potency [33,35]. Women were reported to be more sexually active if they had tattoos, and a certain number of tattoos was associated with the number of premarital sexual partners and age at first intercourse both in men and women [36].…”

“…Women are more likely to have tattoos for body decoration, while men are more likely to have an image or symbol representing group identity [2]. One recent study revealed that women with tattoos tend to perceive the ideal body image as being a tattooed body [33]. Another investigation reported that female footballers prefer smaller and also more discreet tattoos for the purpose of ornamentation, while male footballers choose extensive tattoos, possibly to enhance their domination.…”