Representações sociais da autolesão para jovens escolares de Campo Grande/MS: o corpo em questão

Abstract

Stemming from bodily practices, the intentional act of marking one’s own body to relieve psychological distress is understood as a contemporary social phenomenon. Self-injury, one of the terms used to describe this phenomenon, which will be adopted in this study, has two central characteristics: injuries are not suicidal intent and are not socially validated. Several authors consider self-injury to be predominantly practiced by young people, often reinforced among adolescents. Among other aspects, the hyperconnectivity characteristic of contemporary times has influenced young people's subjectivity, particularly girls and women, in their relationship with their bodies, health, and well-being. This affected prevailing beauty and fashion norms circulating socially, driving the pursuit of an ideal, slim, and healthy body. Among the youth, the body holds a prominent place in social dynamics. That said, this research aimed to analyze the social representations of self-injury among school-aged youth. The specific objectives included analyzing the attitudes, behaviors, and habits concerning bodily practices or body care among youth and analyzing the structural aspects of social representations of self-injury among the participants. The study employed the theoretical perspective of Social Representation Theory using the structural approach of the Central Nucleus Theory. This qualitative study was conducted through the application of an online questionnaire, which included the Free Word Association Technique (FWAT) and questions about sociodemographic characterization, mental health perceptions, body satisfaction, bodily practices, and self-injury experiences. The survey was carried out in three public schools in the state education network in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul. A total of 83 young individuals participated, most of whom were girls, with an equal proportion of White and Black youth. The results revealed that girls reported greater dissatisfaction with their bodies and a more negative self-perception of mental health, in which the internet seems to have a significant relationship, as most participants reported frequent social media use. This relationship has also been identified in other studies. Regarding the social representations (SR) of self-injury for this group, the central nucleus was composed of the elements "pain" and "cut," which serve as organizational and normative components. The peripheral system was structured around categories such as the causes of self-injury, its functions, and the methods and instruments, which derive meaning from the central nucleus. Finally, the study established the need to create spaces for youth expression and support to enable alternative ways of processing and reframing their experiences of suffering.