Self-compassion in online accounts of nonsuicidal self-injury: An interpretive phenomenological analysis

Abstract

Self-compassion has been described as an adaptive form of self-to-self relating. It involves the three interrelated components of self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness exhibited toward the self at times of pain and failure. The current study explored the self-compassion among individuals who engage in nonsuicidal self-injury. It involved a qualitative analysis of online autobiographical stories from self-injury websites. The data were analyzed using interpretive phenomenological analysis with the aim of identifying how individuals who self-injure describe and express self-compassion in their online communications. Various themes and subthemes were generated within the three components of self-compassion. Implications of the analysis for future research, theory, and clinical practice are discussed.

Keywords:

• nonsuicidal self-injury
• self-harm
• self-compassion
• interpretive phenomenological analysis
• qualitative
• Internet