Gendered Psychological Responses to Dating Violence and NSSI

Abstract

Dating violence is a growing social and psychological concern among emerging adults and may lead to various mental health problems, including self-harm behavior. Self-harm refers to intentional self-injury performed without suicidal intent and is often used as a maladaptive strategy to regulate emotional distress. This study aims to understand the experiences and tendencies of self-harm among male and female victims of dating violence in emerging adulthood from their respective perspectives. The research employed a qualitative approach using thematic analysis to explore participants psychological experiences. Participants consisted of six young adults aged 18–25 years who had experienced violence within romantic relationships. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using the thematic analysis framework. The findings indicate that both male and female victims experienced emotional distress following dating violence, including feelings of anxiety, sadness, and loss of self-control. Variations were observed in how participants expressed and managed their emotional distress. Female participants tended to internalize emotional pain and reported stronger tendencies toward self-harm behaviors as a coping mechanism. In contrast, male participants were more likely to express distress through externalizing behaviors such as anger or withdrawal. These findings emphasize the importance of understanding diverse psychological responses based on individual perspectives. This study contributes to the development of more inclusive and sensitive mental health interventions for victims of dating violence and provides insight into the psychological dynamics of emerging adults experiencing abusive relationships.