“What I couldn’t do before, I can do now”: Narrations of agentic shifts and psychological growth by young adults reporting discontinuation of self-injury since adolescence

Abstract

Purpose We explore young adults’ narrations of life events in association with nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) discontinuation, psychological growth, and agency. Methods Transcripts from eleven face-to-face interviews with individuals who quantitatively reported injuring themselves in adolescence (2007–2008) but not in young adulthood (2017) were narratively analysed. Results We found that at starting points , a period preceding an agentic shift in the narrative, participants endured stressful living conditions and mental illness. During this period, participants perceived no point in trying to initiate change because they did not perceive themselves as having the capacity to do so and nor could they adequately utilize any formal or informal support. After a turning point that enabled agency due to gaining a sense of belongingness, liberation, or perspective, participants underwent a process of attaining psychological well-being. However, narrating psychological growth also required momentum points , encompassing the management of and moving on from stressful contexts, along with the recognition of milestones marking improvement relative to the starting points . Conclusions NSSI discontinuation was narrated in conjunction with psychological growth when participants also experienced themselves as situated within an agentic context, because agency is understood as necessary to react to and manage current and future life circumstances.

How do people conceptualize self‐harm recovery and what helps in adolescence, young and middle adulthood? A qualitative meta‐synthesis

“…In accordance with the research aims, all articles examined factors pertinent in recovery and four papers explored how participants conceptualized self‐harm recovery (Kelada et al, 2018; Kruzan & Whitlock, 2019; Lewis, Kenny, et al, 2019; Whitlock et al, 2015). Seven studies were based in the United States (Buser et al, 2014; Gelinas & Wright, 2013; Kelada et al, 2018; Kruzan & Whitlock, 2019; Lewis, Kenny, et al, 2019; Shaw, 2006; Whitlock et al, 2015) and four from Europe (Claréus et al, 2021; Holliday et al, 2020; Rissanen et al, 2013; Wadman et al, 2017). All studies used community samples.…”

“…For many participants, self‐harm served a specific purpose, often related to managing negative affect (Gelinas & Wright, 2013; Kelada et al, 2018) and thus, “relieving the pressure” of intense emotionality (Claréus et al, 2021).

“It's just an automatic reaction now when I feel embarrassed/stressed/angry/agitated.” (17‐year‐old female) (Kelada et al, 2018).

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“…However, whilst individuals acknowledged that such psychological and emotional distress may arise from mental health issues or other internal struggles, many participants also referenced the distress associated with interpersonal difficulties or external triggers such as failure at school or bullying (Claréus et al, 2021; Gelinas & Wright, 2013; Kelada et al, 2018).

“When he broke up with me, I went back into a lot of self‐destructive behaviours, including cutting regularly.” (Unspecified participant) (Kruzan & Whitlock, 2019).

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“…Such situations may feel unresolvable or out of one's control and self‐harm serves a means of coping with these experiences (Claréus et al, 2021). This was coded as the Functionality of self‐harm as self‐harm remains efficacious and thus, reduces the likelihood of cessation (Gelinas & Wright, 2013; Kelada et al, 2018).…”

Documenting the mental health climate in correctional work and the realities of suicide

“…Third, this study focused on experiences of suicide thoughts and behaviors, which was operationalized as action or thoughts toward death by suicide, and contrary to notions of agency, control, and well-being ( Johnston et al, 2022a ). Thus, this research excludes related but potentially departing experiences of self-injury, which may encompass experiences of self-harm that do not move toward the end of life via suicide, and in some cases, embody more agency ( Claréus et al, 2021 ). Future research should investigate the phenomena of self-injurious practices among correctional workers in Canada and internationally, as this work could distinguish more clearly between thoughts or actions that move toward end-of-life and actions that may reflect other various and nuanced degrees of self-harm.…”