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Journal of Education, Health and Sport

Digital Self-Harm Among Adolescents - a literature review
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Digital Self-Harm Among Adolescents - a literature review

Authors

  • Karolina Krochmal Lower Silesian Oncology Center, plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wrocław, Poland https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1909-8429
  • Aleksandra Kujawa Independent Public Healthcare Complex in Pruszków, Armii Krajowej 2/4, 05-800 Pruszków https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3538-8631
  • Kacper Stępniak West Masovia Health Centre Bolesława Limanowskiego 30, 96-300 Żyrardów https://orcid.org/0009-0007-0273-6029
  • Jan Wilk Military Institute of Medicine - National Research Institute ul. Szaserów 128, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0007-5805-2144
  • Paulina Krzeszowska Lower Silesian Oncology Center, plac Hirszfelda 12, 53-413 Wroclaw, Poland https://orcid.org/0009-0001-5610-0006
  • Radosław Kuźma County Hospital in Sochaczew, Batalionów Chłopskich 3/7, 96-500 Sochaczew https://orcid.org/0009-0004-7914-7941
  • Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak Central Clinical Hospital, University Clinical Center of the Medical University of Warsaw Banacha 1A, 02-097 Warsaw https://orcid.org/0009-0006-6941-166X
  • Jakub Jarmołowicz Wrocław University Hospital, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wrocław https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7574-1423
  • Adrianna Samoraj Independent Public Healthcare Complex in Pruszków, Armii Krajowej 2/4, 05-800 Pruszków https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8539-6551
  • Jakub Zajączkowski West Mazovia Health Centre Limanowskiego 30, 96-300 Żyrardów https://orcid.org/0009-0006-1722-4504

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2025.82.60375

Keywords

Digital Self-Harm, Self-Harm, Non-Suicidal Self-Injury, Adolescents

Abstract

Introduction:

Digital self-harm (DSH) is a newly identified phenomenon in which adolescents anonymously publish hurtful content targeting their own person online. It is often associated with difficulties regulating emotions and the need for social validation. The phenomenon is more common among those belonging to minority groups, such as LGBTQ+ youth and those with disabilities. Digital self-harm can act as a marker of serious emotional disturbance and be a signal of suicide risk.  

Materials and Methods:

Literature review was conducted using databases such as PubMed and Google Scholar, with search terms including “digital self-harm”, “fictitious online victimization”, “non-suicidal self-injury”,, “adolescents”.

Conclusions:

DSH remains an under-recognized phenomenon, despite growing research interest. It shows similarities with non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), but its digital specificity suggests the need to separate it as a separate clinical category. At present, there is no unified theoretical framework or effective treatments - it is not known whether the interventions used for NSSI are equally effective in the context of DSH. It should be noted that research on DSH remains methodologically and geographically limited. Analyses that include European cultural and social perspectives are lacking. There is an urgent need for in-depth qualitative research to understand the motivations and psychological mechanisms surrounding this phenomenon. Educating teachers, parents and mental health professionals on how to recognize and respond to DSH behavior should become an integral part of public health policy.

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Journal of Education, Health and Sport

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Published

2025-06-13

How to Cite

1.
KROCHMAL, Karolina, KUJAWA, Aleksandra, STĘPNIAK, Kacper, WILK, Jan, KRZESZOWSKA, Paulina, KUŹMA, Radosław, MARRODÁN-WOJTCZAK, Karolina, JARMOŁOWICZ, Jakub, SAMORAJ, Adrianna and ZAJĄCZKOWSKI, Jakub. Digital Self-Harm Among Adolescents - a literature review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport. Online. 13 June 2025. Vol. 82, p. 60375. [Accessed 8 July 2025]. DOI 10.12775/JEHS.2025.82.60375.
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Vol. 82 (2025)

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Medical Sciences

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Copyright (c) 2025 Karolina Krochmal, Aleksandra Kujawa, Kacper Stępniak, Jan Wilk, Paulina Krzeszowska, Radosław Kuźma, Karolina Marrodán-Wojtczak, Jakub Jarmołowicz, Adrianna Samoraj, Jakub Zajączkowski

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