An investigation on self-mutilation in a group of the social network Facebook

Abstract

To identify the composition and structure of a self-mutilation group in a virtual social network, qualitative, descriptive and exploratory research was carried out. We analyzed 103 textual and imagery posts, based on the content analysis of Bardin, from a group about self-mutilation on Facebook in the period 2014-2015. The categories, composition, and structure of the Facebook self-mutilation group that emerged address identity characteristics that permeate group participants and the context of self-mutilation practice and engagement attitudes to the group. It is emphasized that the identity and structural characteristics found that operationalize the functionality of a self-mutilation group on the internet contribute to the understanding of the behavior and contribute to the professional practice of children and youth.