A Linguistic Analysis of Suicide-Related Twitter Posts

Bridianne O’Dea · Mark Erik Larsen · Philip J. Batterham · Alison L. Calear · Helen M Christensen

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Mental Health via Writing Suicide and Self-Harm Studies Digital Communication and Language

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. Identifying those at risk and delivering timely interventions is challenging. Social media site Twitter is used to express suicidality. Automated linguistic analysis of suicide-related posts may help to differentiate those who require support or intervention from those who do not. AIMS: This study aims to characterize the linguistic profiles of suicide-related Twitter posts. METHOD: Using a dataset of suicide-related Twitter posts previously coded for suicide risk by experts, Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) and regression analyses were conducted to determine differences in linguistic profiles. RESULTS: When compared with matched non-suicide-related Twitter posts, strongly concerning suicide-related posts were characterized by a higher word count, increased use of first-person pronouns, and more references to death. When compared with safe-to-ignore suicide-related posts, strongly concerning suicide-related posts were characterized by increased use of first-person pronouns, greater anger, and increased focus on the present. Other differences were found. LIMITATIONS: The predictive validity of the identified features needs further testing before these results can be used for interventional purposes. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrates that strongly concerning suicide-related Twitter posts have unique linguistic profiles. The examination of Twitter data for the presence of such features may help to validate online risk assessments and determine those in need of further support or intervention.

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References

2012Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC)2003Lying Words: Predicting Deception from Linguistic Styles 1990Relationship between hopelessness and ultimate suicide: a replication with psychiatric outpatients 2004Linguistic Markers of Psychological Change Surrounding September 11, 2001 2011The secret life of pronouns 2014When Small Words Foretell Academic Success: The Case of College Admissions Essays 2013Pronoun Use Reflects Standings in Social Hierarchies 2002Suicide and psychiatric diagnosis: a worldwide perspective.

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