@article{ref1,
title="Comparing indicators of suicidality among users in different types of nonprofessional suicide message boards",
journal="Crisis",
year="2019",
author="Van den Nest, Miriam and Till, Benedikt and Niederkrotenthaler, Thomas",
volume="40",
number="2",
pages="125-133",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Little is known about linguistic differences between nonprofessional suicide message boards that differ in regard to their predominant attitude to suicide. AIMS: To compare linguistic indicators potentially related to suicidality between anti-suicide, neutral, and pro-suicide message boards, and between the types of posters (primary posters, who initiate the thread, and the respective respondents). <br><br>METHOD: In all, 1,200 threads from seven German-language nonprofessional suicide message boards were analyzed using the software Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) with regard to wording related to suicidal fantasies, aggression, and indicators of so-called suicidal constriction. Data were analyzed with ANOVA. <br><br>RESULTS: There were fewer words related to affective, social, cognitive, and communicative processes in pro-suicide message boards than in other boards. Death-related wording and aggression as well as tentative wording appeared more prevalent in pro-suicide boards. LIMITATIONS: Complex language structures cannot be analyzed with LIWC. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The results suggest fewer emotion words and wording related to social circumstances among primary posters and respondents in pro-suicide boards as compared with other boards, and a higher use of death- and aggression-related words. These findings might signal a higher degree of suicidality or sheer differences in matters of interest or social desirability. The differences require attention in practice and research.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0227-5910",
doi="10.1027/0227-5910/a000540",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000540"
}