Understanding the processes underlying self-harm ideationand behaviors within LGBTQ+ young people: Aqualitative study

Williams, A. Jess; Arcelus, Jon; Townsend, Ellen; Michail, Maria

Abstract

Objective
This study aims to understand the processes underlying self-harmful thoughts and behaviors, with and without suicidal intent, among LGBTQ+ young people.

Method
Nineteen semi-structured interviews took place between October 2019 and May 2020. Participants were aged between 16 and 25 years, had experiences of self-harm ideation and behaviors, and were part of the LGBTQ+ umbrella. A range of sexualities and gender identities were represented: eleven participants were cisgender, six were transgender and two were non-binary. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and anonymised. Thematic analysis and reflective member-checking were used to develop a thematic framework.

Results
Three themes were developed from the interviews and evaluated by four participants who engaged with reflective member-checking. Findings indicated that internal processes and external responses to being LGBTQ+ resulted in self-harmful thoughts and behaviors. Alongside these, additional stressors related to being a young person were led to difficulties with self-harm.

Conclusions
Findings from this study indicate that young people often struggle with accepting their LGBTQ+ identity for a number of reasons, whether this is due to access to a resource or their own feelings about their identity. These negative self-perceptions can be enhanced by poor responses from others and additional life stressors which impact their self-esteem or self-perception.

HIGHLIGHTS
Understanding and accepting that one is LGBTQ+ is not always a simple process, struggling with these thoughts can influence self-harm.

Lack of LGBTQ+ terminology hinders self-acceptance and caused young people to engage with self-harm.

Peers and family members responses to a young people’s LGBTQ+ identity is highly significant and can directly led to self-harmful thoughts and experiences.

Citation

Williams, A. J., Arcelus, J., Townsend, E., & Michail, M. (2021). Understanding the processes underlying self-harm ideationand behaviors within LGBTQ+ young people: Aqualitative study. Archives of Suicide Research, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.2003273

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Nov 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Nov 22, 2021
• Publication Date: Nov 22, 2021
• Deposit Date: Nov 9, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Nov 23, 2022
• Journal: Archives of Suicide Research
• Print ISSN: 1381-1118
• Electronic ISSN: 1573-8159
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Pages: 1-17
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.2003273
• Keywords: Psychiatry and Mental health; Clinical Psychology
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/6676560
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13811118.2021.2003273
• Additional Information: his is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Archives of Suicide Research on 22 Nov 2021, available online: http://www.tandfonline.com/https://doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2021.2003273