Reasons for recovery and readiness to change among adolescents and young adults engaging in self-injury.

Abstract

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) typically begins during adolescence and the process of treatment and recovery can be challenging. We examine NSSI through the lens of the Transtheoretical Model of Change, a framework that views the process of change as five stages, with differing degrees of readiness to change. Thirty participants, both adolescents and young adults (14 to 35 years), were recruited from a tertiary care neuropsychiatric hospital. The participants were predominantly female and had self-injured at least once in the last year. They completed the Inventory of Statements about Self Injury, the University of Rhode Island Change Assessment and the Reasons to Stop Self-Injury Questionnaire. Seventy-three percent were in the contemplation stage with respect to their readiness to change, while the rest were in the pre-contemplation stage. Participants endorsed a range of vulnerability and resilience related reasons to stop injuring; reasons related to self-efficacy, the addictive nature of NSSI, self-efficacy and impact on interpersonal relationships were prominent levers for the recovery process. Preliminary trends indicated that participants in the contemplation stage endorsed reasons to stop self-injuring more strongly than those in pre-contemplation. The findings carry implications for assessment, the amplification of reasons for recovery and individualized interventions to support the recovery process with individuals who engage in NSSI.