Perspectives from Young Australian Women with Lived Experience on Why Rates of Self-Harm Are Increasing: A Qualitative Study.

Hankin, L; Hronis, A; Whitton, A; Tang, S; Slade, A; Christensen, H; Calear, AL; Boydell, K; Rheinberger, D

Perspectives from Young Australian Women with Lived Experience on Why Rates of Self-Harm Are Increasing: A Qualitative Study.

Hankin, L Hronis, A

Whitton, A Tang, S Slade, A Christensen, H Calear, AL Boydell, K Rheinberger, D

Permalink

Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2025, 22, (12), pp. 1871
Issue Date:: 2025-12-16

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (494.56 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Hankin, L
dc.contributor.author	Hronis, A https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6489-0231
dc.contributor.author	Whitton, A
dc.contributor.author	Tang, S
dc.contributor.author	Slade, A
dc.contributor.author	Christensen, H
dc.contributor.author	Calear, AL
dc.contributor.author	Boydell, K
dc.contributor.author	Rheinberger, D
dc.date.accessioned	2026-05-28T01:03:53Z
dc.date.available	2025-12-11
dc.date.available	2026-05-28T01:03:53Z
dc.date.issued	2025-12-16
dc.identifier.citation	Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2025, 22, (12), pp. 1871
dc.identifier.issn	1661-7827
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195175
dc.description.abstract	Rates of self-harm in Australian young people have increased significantly in recent years, especially in young women. Self-harm has been associated with several risk factors, including a history of abuse, bullying, mood and personality disorders, social isolation and suicidal ideation. However, little is known about why rates have increased in the past decade, and the voices of young Australian women have been conspicuously absent from the research. This study explored perceived subjective reasons for the increase in self-harm rates by interviewing 24 young Australian women with lived experience of self-harming behaviours. A reflexive thematic analysis identified three interwoven themes: 'The world is hard, and it's getting harder', 'New media exacerbates old challenges', and 'The online world brings unique challenges'. Participants also highlighted the complexity of social media as both a negative influence and a supportive factor. These themes extend previous research by highlighting the nuanced and multi-faceted psychosocial factors that influence self-harming behaviours and may help inform effective, evidence-based strategies that help minimise harm.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Int J Environ Res Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph22121871
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Self-Injurious Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.subject.mesh	Self-Injurious Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Self-Injurious Behavior
dc.subject.mesh	Australia
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research
dc.subject.mesh	Social Media
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors
dc.title	Perspectives from Young Australian Women with Lived Experience on Why Rates of Self-Harm Are Increasing: A Qualitative Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	22
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.rights.license	This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0). To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
dc.date.updated	2026-05-28T01:03:51Z
pubs.issue	12
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	22
utslib.citation.issue	12

Abstract:

Rates of self-harm in Australian young people have increased significantly in recent years, especially in young women. Self-harm has been associated with several risk factors, including a history of abuse, bullying, mood and personality disorders, social isolation and suicidal ideation. However, little is known about why rates have increased in the past decade, and the voices of young Australian women have been conspicuously absent from the research. This study explored perceived subjective reasons for the increase in self-harm rates by interviewing 24 young Australian women with lived experience of self-harming behaviours. A reflexive thematic analysis identified three interwoven themes: 'The world is hard, and it's getting harder', 'New media exacerbates old challenges', and 'The online world brings unique challenges'. Participants also highlighted the complexity of social media as both a negative influence and a supportive factor. These themes extend previous research by highlighting the nuanced and multi-faceted psychosocial factors that influence self-harming behaviours and may help inform effective, evidence-based strategies that help minimise harm.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/195175