Self-Injury and Gender

Nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI) includes a set of behaviors in which an individual intentionally hurts oneself severely enough to create an immediate, often visible, injury on the body, without suicidal intent. There has been increasing attention on NSSI because it occurs at relatively high rates and places a person at risk for long-lasting physical injuries or scars as well as increased risk for death by suicide. This entry provides an overview of gender-based patterns, features, and risk for self-injury; reviews explanations for why people engage in NSSI; and briefly describes the presence of NSSI among transgender individuals. It concludes with suggested areas for continued study on gender and self-injury.