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Self‐Stigma Toward Nonsuicidal Self‐Injury: An Examination of Implicit and Explicit Attitudes
Author(s) -
Piccirillo Marilyn L.,
Burke Taylor A.,
MooreBerg Samantha L.,
Alloy Lauren B.,
Heimberg Richard G.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
suicide and life‐threatening behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.544
H-Index - 90
eISSN - 1943-278X
pISSN - 0363-0234
DOI - 10.1111/sltb.12640
Subject(s) - psychology , disfigurement , clinical psychology , stigma (botany) , injury prevention , human factors and ergonomics , poison control , suicide prevention , medicine , psychiatry , medical emergency , surgery
Objective Evidence suggests that individuals without a history of nonsuicidal self‐injury (NSSI) are likely to view NSSI as a stigmatized behavior. However, there is limited evidence evaluating the presence of self‐stigma among individuals who have engaged in NSSI. Methods We recruited a university sample ( n = 351) and employed implicit and explicit measures to examine the degree of stigmatization toward those with NSSI scarring, as compared to nonintentional disfigurement (i.e., accidental scarring) and to tattoos (i.e., a culturally sanctioned form of intentional tissue alteration). We examined the extent to which bias is related to indicators of NSSI severity among those with a history of NSSI. Results We provide evidence that negative biases toward NSSI may represent the effects of self‐stigma. However, findings suggest that biases were generally attenuated among participants with a history of NSSI as compared to those without. Participants who had lower levels of NSSI explicit bias were more likely to have a history of more severe engagement in NSSI; however, no significant relationships were found between implicit bias and NSSI severity indicators. Conclusions We present a theoretical rationale for attenuated biases among individuals with a history of NSSI and discuss implications of this research for NSSI recovery.