The Body as a Battleground: A Qualitative Study of the Impact of Violence, Body Shaming, and Self-Harm in Adolescents with a History of Suicide Attempts

Abstract

Perceived experiences of violence, trauma, body dissatisfaction, and body shaming emerge as interconnected factors contributing to suicide attempts among adolescents. There is a critical need to improve the understanding and prediction of suicide attempts in this vulnerable population. In this study, a primarily qualitative design was employed, supported by descriptive quantitative elements, such as code frequencies and word clouds, to explore in-depth narrative interviews of adolescents who attempted suicide. Thematic content analysis was utilized to analyze the transcripts of these narrative interviews. The study sample consisted of 22 adolescents (M_age = 16.98 years; SD = 1.624; 77% males, 19% females, 4% non-binary or transgender). The content analysis revealed two significant body-related risk factors for suicide attempts: experiences of violence or trauma and body dissatisfaction, which were associated with maladaptive coping strategies, including self-harm, substance use, and eating disorders. Acute somatic warning signs such as dissociative states, loss of control, and disconnection from one's body suggested pronounced psychophysiological dysregulation. The findings underscore the body as a battleground, where emotional pain related to bodily experiences and perceptions manifests significantly. Future research should integrate subjective body-related experiences in risk assessments and interventions targeting adolescent suicidal behaviors.

Keywords: acute risk; body dissatisfaction; body shaming; narrative interview; qualitative research; self-harm; suicide attempt; violence.

Figure 1

Single-word cloud of body-related language in suicidal narratives. The frequency of each word’s occurrence is reflected in the size of the word in the cloud. Different shades of black are used for visual variety only and do not convey any additional meaning.

Figure 2

Two- to three-word cloud of body-related language in suicidal narratives. The frequency of the word’s occurrence is reflected in the size of the word in the cloud. Different shades of black are used for visual variety only and do not convey any additional meaning.