비자살적 자해(NSSI) 경험을 지닌 성인 초기 남성의 정체성 형성과정에 관한 연구 = A Study on the Identity Formation Process of Early Adult Men with Experiences of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury (NSSI)

국문 초록 (Abstract)

본 연구는 비자살적 자해(NSSI) 경험을 지닌 성인 초기 남성의 정체성 형성과정이 서
사적으로 구성되는 방식을 분석하였다. 기존 연구가 NSSI를 주로 개인의 병리적 특
성이나 위험요인 중심으로 설명해 온 데 비해, 본 연구는 NSSI를 정체성 발달과 삶
의 경험 맥락 속에서 이해하고자 하였다. 특히 NSSI 경험이 관계적, 사회·문화적, 온
라인 맥락과의 상호작용 속에서 어떻게 해석되고 재의미화되는지를 탐색하였다.
이를 위해 질적 내러티브 탐구 설계를 적용하였으며, NSSI 경험을 지닌 성인 초
기 남성 6명을 대상으로 심층 면담을 실시하였다. 수집된 자료는 전사본 서사화, 의
미 단위 분절·코드화·범주화, 사례 내 분석, 사례 간 분석, 주제화 과정, 맥락적 통합
으로 구성된 단계적 내러티브 분석 절차를 통해 분석되었다. 이러한 분석 접근은 참
여자들이 자신의 경험을 하나의 자기서사로 조직하는 방식과, NSSI에 부여된 의미가
시간과 맥락에 따라 어떻게 변화하는지를 탐색하는 데 목적을 두었다.
연구 결과, 정체성 형성과정은 단일 사건이나 개인 내부 특성에 의해 결정되기보
다 파괴적 자기서사와 회복적 자기서사가 교차하는 역동적인 서사적 과정 속에서 형
성되는 것으로 나타났다. NSSI는 단순한 문제행동이 아니라, 정서 조절과 자기 이해
를 조정하고 일시적인 통제감을 회복하기 위한 서사적 기제로 기능하였다. 사례 전반
에서는 정서적 결핍, 반복된 실패 경험, 관계적 고립, 내면화된 수치감, 그리고 감정
표현을 제한하는 전통적 남성성 규범이 반복적으로 나타났다.
사례 간 분석 결과, NSSI 경험은 가족관계, 학업 및 직업 경험, 사회적 기대, 남
성성 규범, 온라인 환경 등 다양한 삶의 영역이 상호작용하는 과정 속에서 형성되었
다. 이러한 다층적 맥락은 정체성 취약성을 강화하며, NSSI를 누적된 정서적, 관계적,
사회·문화적 압력이 응축된 상징적 서사 행위로 이해되었다. 특히 온라인 공간은 일시적인 소속감을 제공하는 동시에 사회적 비교와 자기비난을 강화하는 양가적 맥락으로
기능하였다.
한편 일부 참여자들은 관계적 지지와 성찰적 의미 재구성을 통해 파괴적 자기서사
에서 부분적으로 벗어나 회복적 자기서사로의 전환을 보였다. 이러한 결과는 정체성
발달이 경험의 축적이 아니라, 의미가 지속적으로 재조직되는 과정임을 시사한다. 종
합적으로 본 연구는 NSSI 경험을 지닌 성인 초기 남성의 정체성 형성과정을 개인 내
면적 병리로 국한하기보다, 정서적, 관계적, 사회·문화적 맥락 속에서 구성되는 다층
적 서사 현상으로 이해할 필요성을 제시한다. 아울러 이러한 결과는 성인 초기 남성
의 NSSI를 정체성 발달의 맥락에서 이해하고, 상담·임상 장면에서 관계적 의미 재구
성과 서사적 개입을 중심으로 한 통합적 접근으로 확장될 가능성을 시사한다.

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

This study analyzed how the identity formation processes of early adult men
with experiences of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) are narratively constructed.
Whereas prior research has primarily explained NSSI through individual
pathological characteristics or risk factors, this study explored how NSSI
experiences are interpreted and re-meaninged through interactions within
relational, sociocultural, and online contexts.
To this end, a qualitative narrative inquiry design was employed, and
in-depth interviews were conducted with six early adult men with experiences
of NSSI. The collected data were analyzed through a step-by-step narrative
analysis procedure, which included narrative transcription, segmenting∙coding∙
categorizing meaning units, within-case analysis, cross-case analysis, thematic
synthesis, and contextual integration. This analytical approach aimed to explore
how participants organize their experiences into a self-narrative and how the
meanings assigned to NSSI evolve across time and context.
The findings revealed that the identity formation process is not determined
by a single event or internal individual traits, but rather takes shape within a
dynamic narrative process where disruptive and restorative self-narratives
intersect. Rather than being a mere problem behavior, NSSI functioned as a
narrative
mechanism
for
regulating
emotional
states,
mediating
self-understanding, and reclaiming a temporary sense of control. Across the
cases, several recurring themes emerged: emotional deprivation, repeated
experiences of failure, relational isolation, internalized shame, and traditional
masculinity norms that restrict emotional expression.
The cross-case analysis demonstrated that the experience of NSSI is
formed through the interaction of diverse life domains, including familial
relationships, academic and vocational experiences, social expectations,
masculinity norms, and online environments. These multilayered contexts
reinforce identity vulnerability, positioning NSSI as a symbolic narrative act-a
condensation of accumulated emotional, relational, and socio-cultural
pressures. Notably, online spaces functioned as an ambivalent context,
providing a temporary sense of belonging while simultaneously intensifying
social comparison and self-criticism.
Meanwhile, some participants demonstrated a transition from a disruptive
self-narrative to a restorative self-narrative through relational support and
reflective re-meaning. These findings suggest that identity development is not a
mere accumulation of experiences, but a continuous process of reorganizing
meaning. Collectively, this study emphasizes the necessity of understanding the
identity formation of early adult men with NSSI experiences as a multilayered
narrative
phenomenon constructed within emotional, relational, and
socio-cultural contexts, rather than confining it to individual pathology.
Furthermore, these results suggest that NSSI in early adulthood should be
understood within the context of identity development, pointing toward the
potential for an integrative approach in counseling and clinical settings
centered on relational meaning reconstruction and narrative intervention.

목차 (Table of Contents)

• 초록············································································································································ ⅰ
• 감사의 글··································································································································· ⅲ
• 목차············································································································································ ⅴ
• 표목차········································································································································· ⅸ
• 그림목차····································································································································· ⅸ
• 부록목차····································································································································· ⅹ
• Ⅰ. 서론······································································································································· 1
• 1. 연구의 배경 및 필요성·································································································· 1
• 2. 연구 목적 및 질문·········································································································· 9
• Ⅱ. 이론적 배경······················································································································· 11
• 1. 정체성 형성과정의 이해······························································································ 11
• 1.1. 정체성과 서사의 이해··························································································· 11
• 1.2. 정체성과 NSSI의 다각적 접근············································································ 17
• 1.3. 정체성과 NSSI의 국내·외 연구 동향································································· 23
• 2. 비자살적 자해(NSSI)···································································································· 26
• Ⅲ. 연구 방법··························································································································· 31
• 1. 내러티브 연구··············································································································· 31
• 2. 연구 준비······················································································································· 34
• 2.1. 연구의 설계 및 절차····························································································· 34
• 2.2. 면담 질문지의 구성과 운영················································································· 37
• 2.3. 자료수집의 방법 및 고려사항············································································· 43
• 3. 연구 참여자··················································································································· 47
• 4. 면담 실시······················································································································· 50
• 5. 자료의 처리 및 분석 절차·························································································· 53
• 5.1. 전사 및 자료준비·································································································· 53
• 5.2. 내러티브의 분석 및 신뢰성·타당성 확보·························································· 54
• Ⅳ. 연구 결과··························································································································· 60
• 1. 전사본 서사화(Narrative Reconstruction)··························································· 61
• 1.1. P1의 전사본 서사·································································································· 61
• 1.2. P2의 전사본 서사·································································································· 63
• 1.3. P3의 전사본 서사·································································································· 64
• 1.4. P4의 전사본 서사·································································································· 66
• 1.5. P5의 전사본 서사·································································································· 67
• 1.6. P6의 전사본 서사·································································································· 69
• 2. 의미 단위의 분절·코드화·범주화················································································ 71
• 2.1. P1의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 71
• 2.2. P2의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 72
• 2.3. P3의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 73
• 2.4. P4의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 74
• 2.5. P5의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 75
• 2.6. P6의 Full Coding Table···················································································· 76
• 3. 사례 내 분석(Within-Case Analysis)····································································· 77
• 3.1. P1의 서사: 기대에 짓눌린 좌절········································································· 77
• 3.2. P2의 서사: 성장의 기반이 된 상처··································································· 79
• 3.3. P3의 서사: 지속된 상실과 미완의 정체성························································ 80
• 3.4. P4의 서사: 추락과 책임의 무게········································································· 81
• 3.5. P5의 서사: 방치된 내면과 자기 파괴······························································· 83
• 3.6. P6의 서사: 지속된 유기와 내면화된 상처························································ 84
• 4. 사례 간 분석(Cross-Case Analysis)······································································ 85
• 4.1. 가족관계 및 성장배경: 정서적 결핍과 갈등····················································86
• 4.2. 학창 시절: 존재가치의 위협과 부정적 자기인식·············································87
• 4.3. 직업경험 및 진로탐색: 존재의 의미와 가치 확인···········································88
• 4.4. 사회적 기대와 남성성 규범: 심리적 압박과 정체성 혼란·····························90
• 4.5. 온라인 문화와 또래 규범: 위로 없는 관계 속의 고립···································91
• 4.6. NSSI 경험: 순간 안정감과 무력감의 양가성···················································92
• 4.7. 사례 간 분석의 종합적 고찰··············································································· 94
• 5. 주제화 과정(Thematic Extraction) ············································································ 95
• 5.1. 지지의 부재와 상처의 내면화············································································· 96
• 5.2. 배제 경험과 손상된 자기 가치감······································································· 97
• 5.3. 성취 중심 사회기대와 남성성 규범 속의 생존 서사······································99
• 5.4. 위로의 결핍과 관계적 고립··············································································· 100
• 5.5. 고통을 통한 정서 조절의 시도········································································· 101
• 5.6. 주제화 과정의 종합적 고찰··············································································· 103
• 6. 맥락적 통합(Contextual Integration) ··································································· 104
• 6.1. 지지 결핍과 정서적 고립··················································································· 105
• 6.2. 배제 경험과 낮은 자존감··················································································· 107
• 6.3. 사회진입의 좌절과 역할 혼란··········································································· 109
• 6.4. 남성성 규범과 정체성 긴장··············································································· 110
• 6.5. 온라인·또래 관계의 모순적 영향······································································ 112
• 6.6. 정서조절과 자기서사의 전환············································································· 113
• 6.7. 맥락적 통합에 대한 종합적 해석····································································· 114
• Ⅴ. 논의··································································································································· 116
• 1. 정체성 형성과정의 서사적 구성 및 재의미화·······················································118
• 2. 다체계 맥락 속 정체성 형성과정의 양상······························································ 120
• 3. 성인 초기 남성의 정체성 형성과정에 나타난 서사적 구조·······························123
• 3.1. 가족 맥락의 부담감···························································································· 123
• 3.2. 학교·또래 맥락의 주변화··················································································· 124
• 3.3. 배제 경험의 비환영···························································································· 126
• 3.4. 성취 압박과 책임감···························································································· 127
• 3.5. 비교 경험과 열등감···························································································· 128
• 3.6. 자기비난과 무가치감·························································································· 129
• 4. 서사적 정체성 형성과정의 통합 논의···································································· 131
• Ⅵ. 결론 및 제언··················································································································· 134
• 1. 내러티브 분석의 주요 결과······················································································ 135
• 2. 연구의 한계와 학문적·실천적 함의········································································· 140
• 참고문헌·································································································································· 145
• Abstract ································································································································· 156
• 부록·········································································································································· 158