ABSTRACT Non‐suicidal self‐injury (NSSI) is a growing concern among adolescents, yet research on its association with alternative youth subcultures remains limited. Existing research explains subculture–NSSI links mainly through exposure/selection and individual needs, but lacks a sociotechnical account of how platform governance and institutional oversight condition when ACG‐based participation becomes protective coping versus risk amplification. This study aims to explore the relationship between ACG subculture engagement and NSSI, drawing on four theoretical perspectives (i.e., Participatory Culture; Networked Youth Practises; Fandom, Identity and Affect; and Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs) to understand both protective and risk‐enhancing functions of ACG subculture. Using a qualitative research approach, we conducted in‐depth interviews with 20 Chinese adolescents who engaged in NSSI and participated in ACG subculture. Thematic analysis was used to identify recurring patterns in their experiences and perceptions. We found that participation in the ACG subculture can offer psychological safety, a sense of belonging, and increased self‐esteem for adolescents. Meanwhile, it may also expose them to cyberbullying, social exclusion, and the normalisation of self‐harming behaviours. To better conceptualise ACG subcultural participation among adolescents with NSSI, we proposed the Sociotechnical Mediation Model of ACG‐Based Coping . These findings highlight the complex and dualistic nature of the ACG subculture's influence on mental health among adolescents with NSSI, offering important implications for developing targeted interventions to reduce NSSI.
Pan et al. (Sun,) studied this question.