The Experiences of Self-Injury Amongst Adolescents and Young Adults within a South African Context

The aim of the study was to explore the experiences of self-injury among adolescents and young adults within the South African context. The participants were twelve university students who had self-injured in their adolescence (females = 92%). The data were collected through interviews, personal writings and collages and analysed using phenomenological data analysis. The findings indicate that self-injury is a strategy used to alleviate intense intrapersonal and interpersonal distress. To understand the complexity of self-injury, an integrative theoretical approach, encompassing a developmental and biopsychosocial perspective was used.