Similarities and differences in the functions of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) across gender non-conforming and cisgender young adults - research paper

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Jiven

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can serve multiple functions, yet prior NSSI research has relied largely on female samples, limiting understanding of gender similarities and differences. This study examines NSSI function prevalence and versatility in cis-women (n=280), cis-men (n=176), and TGNC young adults aged 18–30 (n=80) using the OSI-F across nine function domains. TGNC participants and cis-women reported more intrapersonal motivation and greater versatility. Intrapersonal functions exceeded social functions across all groups; affect regulation and self-punishment were most endorsed. No domains were gender-specific.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages11

Reading Time28 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Background on NSSI and gender gaps

Methods

Participants and OSI-F assessment

Results

Gender differences and similarities in function endorsement

Discussion

Implications for interventions and future research

Journal of Aϱective Disorders 367 (2024) 496–506 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Journal of Affective Disorders journal [homepage:](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jad)[ www.elsevier.com/locate/jad](homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jad) | Research paper
Similarities and differences in the functions of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) across gender non-conforming and cisgender young adults | | | | --- | --- | --- | | Nina M. Lutz a,b,*, Samuel R. Chamberlain c, Jon E. Grant d, Christine Lochnere, Paul O. Wilkinson a,f, Tamsin J. Ford a,f, Sharon A.S. Neufelda
a Department of Psychiatry, University of Cambridge, UK b The Mental Health Foundation, London, UK
c Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, UK and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Southampton, UK d Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience, University of Chicago, USA
e SA MRC Unit on Risk and Resilience in Mental Disorders, Department of Psychiatry, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa f Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust, UK | | | | A R T I C L E I N F O
Keywords: NSSI
Self-harm Functions Gender Transgender
Non-binary | A B S T R A C T
Background: Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) can be motivated by a broad range of functions and many individuals report multiple reasons for self-injuring. Most NSSI research has involved predominantly female samples and few studies have examined gender similarities and differences in function endorsement.
Methods: We characterise the prevalence and versatility of NSSI functions within a gender-diverse online sample of cisgender women (cis-women; n = 280), cisgender men (cis-men; n = 176), and transgender, non-binary, and other gender non-conforming young adults (TGNC; n = 80) age 18–30 (M = 23.73, SD = 3.55). The Ottawa SelfInjury Inventory (OSI-F) assessed 24 intrapersonal and social functions across nine domains: affect regulation, self-punishment, anti-dissociation, anti-suicide, sensation seeking, sexuality, interpersonal influence, and body image.
Results: TGNC participants and cis-women were significantly more likely to report intrapersonally motivated NSSI and greater function versatility than cis-men. Low mood, emotional distress, suicidality, and trauma symptomology appeared to contribute to gender differences in function endorsement. Gender similarities also emerged; across groups, intrapersonal functions were substantially more common than social functions, and the most endorsed domains were affect regulation and self-punishment. No domains were gender specific. Limitations: The OSI-F was developed from majority female samples and may not adequately capture the experiences of other gender groups.
Conclusions: Interventions which reduce distress and strengthen emotion regulation are likely to benefit individuals who self-injure regardless of gender. However, most individuals report multiple NSSI functions and person-centred interventions which address this complexity are needed. Future research should develop genderinformed treatment models which consider the unique experiences of TGNC individuals and cis-men who selfinjure. | | 1. Introduction Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate, self-directed damage of body tissue without suicidal intent, often by cutting, burning, scratching, or hitting oneself (Klonsky et al., 2014). NSSI is significantly more common among women than men (Bresin and Schoenleber, 2015; Xiao et al., 2022), resulting in a field of research focused predominantly on the experiences of women (Millard, 2013). There is growing evidence that transgender, non-binary, and other gender non-conforming (TGNC) individuals are the gender identity group at highest risk of NSSI (Surace et al., 2021), however this population is absent from prior literature on gender differences in NSSI. Thus, there is a pressing need for research Abbreviations: NSSI, Non-suicidal self-injury; TGNC

FAQs

What functions of NSSI were assessed in this study?

The study used the Ottawa Self-Injury Inventory Functions Scale (OSI-F) to assess 24 intrapersonal and social functions across nine domains, including affect regulation, self-punishment, anti-dissociation, anti-suicide, sensation seeking, sexuality, interpersonal influence, and body image.

Which groups were more likely to report intrapersonally motivated NSSI?

TGNC participants and cis-women were significantly more likely than cis-men to report intrapersonally motivated NSSI and greater function versatility.

What key gender similarities and differences were found?

Gender similarities emerged in that intrapersonal functions were more common than social functions across groups, and the most endorsed domains were affect regulation and self-punishment. Gender differences were reflected in lower mood, emotional distress, suicidality, and trauma symptomology contributing to differences in endorsement, while no domains were strictly gender-specific.

Sep 21, 2026

Upload by Jiven