The following is excerpted from an online article posted by PsyPost.
A study in China found that adolescents prone to non-suicidal self-injuries tend to experience ghosting online more frequently than their peers. The study’s authors proposed that being ghosted online increases social avoidance, which in turn exacerbates depressive symptoms. These depressive symptoms, in turn, increase the likelihood of adolescents engaging in non-suicidal self-injury. The research was published in Death Studies.
Ghosting refers to the sudden and unexplained cessation of communication by one person in a relationship. This often leaves the other person confused and hurt. In modern times, ghosting has become common across various social contexts and relationships. For the individual doing the ghosting, it typically provides an escape from the discomfort of explaining their decision to end the relationship and avoids open conflict. However, for the person being ghosted, the lack of explanation or closure can cause significant emotional distress.
The experience of being ghosted can be especially impactful on adolescents.
Research has shown that some adolescents may respond to extreme emotional distress with non-suicidal self-injuries. These are deliberate, self-inflicted injuries to the body without suicidal intent. Adolescents often engage in self-injury as a way to cope with emotional distress or regulate intense feelings. Common methods include cutting, burning, or scratching the skin, though these actions are not intended to be life-threatening.
The study included 887 senior high school students in China, with an average age of 16–17 years. Approximately 65% of participants were female. Participants completed an online survey via the platform Wenjuanxing, accessed through links provided by their teachers.
The results showed that participants who reported being ghosted more frequently in the past six months tended to have more severe depressive symptoms, stronger social avoidance tendencies, and a higher likelihood of engaging in non-suicidal self-injury.
The study “Being ghosted online and non-suicidal self-injury among adolescents: The role of social avoidance and depression,” was authored by Jiahui Ding, Weiyi Sun, Jie Liu, and Miao Chao.
Source: PsyPost
https://www.psypost.org/adolescents-who-are-ghosted-online-may-face-higher-risks-of-self-harm/
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