The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging pathological condition among emerging adults, causing significant distress and hindering daily life functioning. The increasing prevalence of NSSI highlights its importance as a crucial area requiring clinical attention. To devise effective intervention...

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Main Authors: Soulat Khan, Tasnim Rehna, Tayyab Ali Butt
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1449110/full
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author Soulat Khan
Soulat Khan
Tasnim Rehna
Tayyab Ali Butt
author_facet Soulat Khan
Soulat Khan
Tasnim Rehna
Tayyab Ali Butt
author_sort Soulat Khan
collection DOAJ
description Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging pathological condition among emerging adults, causing significant distress and hindering daily life functioning. The increasing prevalence of NSSI highlights its importance as a crucial area requiring clinical attention. To devise effective interventions for managing NSSI, it is important to identify the factors contributing to its onset and maintenance. Therefore, the current study aims to explore emotional and cognitive factors to provide a holistic understanding of NSSI in emerging adults in the Pakistani context. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with N = 10 self-injurers (mean age: 22.2 years) recruited through purposive sampling. Participants had engaged in self-injury at least five times in the past year without suicidal intent. The arm was identified as the most common site for self-injury, with cutting being the most frequently used method. Data from the transcribed interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes—‘emotional turbulence,’ ‘low distress tolerance,’ and ‘rumination’—and nine subthemes emerged, highlighting the emotional and cognitive factors contributing to the initiation and maintenance of NSSI. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the emotional and cognitive dimensions of NSSI in emerging Pakistani adults. These insights will aid in treatment planning and in selecting appropriate strategies for reducing and ultimately eradicating NSSI.
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spelling doaj-art-cd1105a6b72c4ce4b325c732c5e7994e2025-08-20T01:58:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782024-12-011510.3389/fpsyg.2024.14491101449110The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurersSoulat Khan0Soulat Khan1Tasnim Rehna2Tayyab Ali Butt3Department of Applied Psychology, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Psychology, Foundation University Islamabad (FUI), Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Applied Psychology, National University of Modern Languages (NUML), Islamabad, PakistanDepartment of Psychology, Foundation University Islamabad (FUI), Islamabad, PakistanNon-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an emerging pathological condition among emerging adults, causing significant distress and hindering daily life functioning. The increasing prevalence of NSSI highlights its importance as a crucial area requiring clinical attention. To devise effective interventions for managing NSSI, it is important to identify the factors contributing to its onset and maintenance. Therefore, the current study aims to explore emotional and cognitive factors to provide a holistic understanding of NSSI in emerging adults in the Pakistani context. For this purpose, a qualitative study was conducted using in-depth, semi-structured interviews with N = 10 self-injurers (mean age: 22.2 years) recruited through purposive sampling. Participants had engaged in self-injury at least five times in the past year without suicidal intent. The arm was identified as the most common site for self-injury, with cutting being the most frequently used method. Data from the transcribed interviews were analyzed using Braun and Clarke's reflexive thematic analysis. Three main themes—‘emotional turbulence,’ ‘low distress tolerance,’ and ‘rumination’—and nine subthemes emerged, highlighting the emotional and cognitive factors contributing to the initiation and maintenance of NSSI. The findings of this study provide valuable insights into the emotional and cognitive dimensions of NSSI in emerging Pakistani adults. These insights will aid in treatment planning and in selecting appropriate strategies for reducing and ultimately eradicating NSSI.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1449110/fullnon-suicidal self-injuryemerging adultsqualitative studyruminationdistress toleranceemotional turbulence
spellingShingle Soulat Khan
Soulat Khan
Tasnim Rehna
Tayyab Ali Butt
The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
Frontiers in Psychology
non-suicidal self-injury
emerging adults
qualitative study
rumination
distress tolerance
emotional turbulence
title The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
title_full The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
title_fullStr The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
title_full_unstemmed The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
title_short The emotional surge: in-depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non-suicidal self-injurers
title_sort emotional surge in depth qualitative exploration of rumination and emotional turbulence in non suicidal self injurers
topic non-suicidal self-injury
emerging adults
qualitative study
rumination
distress tolerance
emotional turbulence
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1449110/full
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