Associations between social contagion, group conformity characteristics, and non-suicidal self-injury

Objective The current study aimed to better understand the relationship between exposure to non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) through peers, group conformity characteristics (i.e., over-dependency, need-to-belong), and personal NSSI engagement. Methods: One hundred thirty-eight undergraduate students (n = 40 with history of NSSI) completed an online survey about NSSI history and exposure as well as their interpersonal dependency and need-to-belong in a group. Results: Results indicated that NSSI participants (NSSI+) were more likely to be exposed to NSSI in-person (IP+). NSSI+/IP + participants were more likely to think about NSSI post-media exposure and reported higher over-dependency and need-to-belong than NSSI−/IP−. Conclusions: Findings suggest that being exposed to NSSI in-person and having higher over-dependency and need-to-belong are associated with personal NSSI engagement.