Abstract

This study investigated the mediating effects of internalized shame and thoughts about self-injury scars on the relationship between nonsuicidal self-injury scars and the concealment of these scars. Firstly, we discovered that social thoughts and thoughts about suicide significantly mediate the number of nonsuicidal self-injury scars and the concealment of self-injury scars. Secondly, we examined the sequential mediating effects of internalized shame on each social thought and thought about suicide, and these effects of internalized shame were found to be statistically significant. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding cognitions related to self-injury scars, particularly social thoughts and thoughts about suicide, in relation to scar concealment, as well as the role of internalized shame. The findings of this study contribute to a deeper understanding of nonsuicidal self-injury scars and scar concealment, and suggest potential intervention strategies that focus on thoughts about self-injury scars.