Citation

Bachtelle SE, Pepper CM. J. Nerv. Ment. Dis. 2015; 203(12): 927-933.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Wyoming, Laramie.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1097/NMD.0000000000000398

PMID

26524516

Abstract

The psychological meaning of scars from nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) has been examined in case studies, but descriptive studies are needed to better understand the meaning of NSSI scars. College students with NSSI scars (n = 49) completed questionnaires concerning the interpretive meaning of their scars, emotions associated with their scars, and clinical symptoms. Levels of scar-related growth were positively correlated with interpersonal functions of NSSI (e.g., autonomy, self-care) and negatively correlated with likelihood of future self-injury, self-disgust, self-injury regret, and self-injury scar regret. Conversely, higher levels of scar-related shame were associated with higher likelihood of future self-injury, depressive and borderline personality disorder symptoms, self-disgust, NSSI scar-related regret, and intrapersonal functions of NSSI (e.g., marking distress, self-punishment). Individuals finding shame or guilt may be a more clinically severe group than those finding growth from their scars.

Language: en