Maladaptive effects of anxiety on social support: A linguistic analysis of gad forums

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Vu ◽  
Molly Ireland ◽  
James W. Pennebaker
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Buchner ◽  
Sharina Hamm ◽  
Barbara Medenica ◽  
Marc L. Molendijk

Worldwide, an increase in cases and severity of domestic violence (DV) has been reported as a result of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. As one’s language can provide insight in one’s mental health, this study analyzed word use in a DV online support group, aiming to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DV victims. Words reflecting social support and leisure activities were investigated as protective factors against linguistic indicators of depression. 5856 posts were collected from the r/domesticviolence subreddit and two neutral comparison subreddits (r/changemyview & r/femalefashionadvice). In the DV support group, the average number of daily posts increased significantly by 22% from pre-pandemic to mid-pandemic. Confirmatory analysis was conducted following a registered pre-analysis plan. DV victims used significantly more linguistic indicators of depression than individuals in the comparison groups. These linguistic indicators did not change with the onset of COVID-19. The use of negative emotion words was negatively related to the use of social support words (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient [rho] = -.110) and words referring to leisure activities (rho = -.137). Pre-occupation with COVID-19 was associated with the use of negative emotion words (rho = .148).We conclude that language of DV victims is characterized by indicators of depression and this characteristic is stable over time. Concerns with COVID-19 could contribute to negative emotions, whereas social support and leisure activities could function to some degree as protective factors. A potential weakness of this study could be the limited ability of word count methods to assess the impact of stressors such as COVID-19. Future studies could make use of natural language processing and other advanced methods of linguistic analysis to learn about the mental health of DV victims.


2018 ◽  
pp. 175-203
Author(s):  
Attila Mészáros

The article deals with the discourse about the application of the Hungarian capital Budapest for the 2024 Summer Olympics. Due to the country’s long sporting traditions and its many Olympic suc- cesses, Hungary has long had the idea that the country deserves the opportunity to host the Olympic games. This idea received eminent support from the conservative government of Viktor Orbán, thus Hungary’s Olympic bid practically began its preparation in 2015. Opposing this idea, a counter- movement has been formed, which suggested that Hungary’s nancial resources and current social support were not strong enough for an application. The confrontation of positions quickly led to a change in the discourse that resulted the withdrawal of the application. The article focuses on the course of this debate and its linguistic analysis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentin Buchner ◽  
Sharina Hamm ◽  
Barbara Medenica ◽  
Marc L. Molendijk

Worldwide, an increase in cases and severity of domestic violence (DV) has been reported as a result of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. As one’s language can provide insight in one’s mental health, this study analyzed word use in a DV online support group, aiming to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on DV victims. Words reflecting social support and leisure activities were investigated as protective factors against linguistic indicators of depression. 5856 posts were collected from the r/domesticviolence subreddit and two neutral comparison subreddits (r/changemyview & r/femalefashionadvice). In the DV support group, the average number of daily posts increased significantly by 22% from pre-pandemic to mid-pandemic. Confirmatory analysis was conducted following a registered pre-analysis plan. DV victims used significantly more linguistic indicators of depression than individuals in the comparison groups. These linguistic indicators did not change with the onset of COVID-19. The use of negative emotion words was negatively related to the use of social support words (Spearman’s rho correlation coefficient [rho] = -.110) and words referring to leisure activities (rho = -.137). Pre-occupation with COVID-19 was associated with the use of negative emotion words (rho = .148).We conclude that language of DV victims is characterized by indicators of depression and this characteristic is stable over time. Concerns with COVID-19 could contribute to negative emotions, whereas social support and leisure activities could function to some degree as protective factors. A potential weakness of this study could be the limited ability of word count methods to assess the impact of stressors such as COVID-19. Future studies could make use of natural language processing and other advanced methods of linguistic analysis to learn about the mental health of DV victims.


GeroPsych ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lia Oberhauser ◽  
Andreas B. Neubauer ◽  
Eva-Marie Kessler

Abstract. Conflict avoidance increases across the adult lifespan. This cross-sectional study looks at conflict avoidance as part of a mechanism to regulate belongingness needs ( Sheldon, 2011 ). We assumed that older adults perceive more threats to their belongingness when they contemplate their future, and that they preventively react with avoidance coping. We set up a model predicting conflict avoidance that included perceptions of future nonbelonging, termed anticipated loneliness, and other predictors including sociodemographics, indicators of subjective well-being and perceived social support (N = 331, aged 40–87). Anticipated loneliness predicted conflict avoidance above all other predictors and partially mediated the age-association of conflict avoidance. Results suggest that belongingness regulation accounts may deepen our understanding of conflict avoidance in the second half of life.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 82-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bob Lew ◽  
Ksenia Chistopolskaya ◽  
Yanzheng Liu ◽  
Mansor Abu Talib ◽  
Olga Mitina ◽  
...  

Abstract. Background: According to the strain theory of suicide, strains, resulting from conflicting and competing pressures in an individual's life, are hypothesized to precede suicide. But social support is an important factor that can mitigate strains and lessen their input in suicidal behavior. Aims: This study was designed to assess the moderating role of social support in the relation between strain and suicidality. Methods: A sample of 1,051 employees were recruited in Beijing, the capital of China, through an online survey. Moderation analysis was performed using SPSS PROCESS Macro. Social support was measured with the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and strains were assessed with the Psychological Strains Scale. Results: Psychological strains are a good predictor of suicidality, and social support, a basic need for each human being, moderates and decreases the effects of psychological strains on suicidality. Limitations: The cross-sectional survey limited the extent to which conclusions about causal relationships can be drawn. Furthermore, the results may not be generalized to the whole of China because of its diversity. Conclusion: Social support has a tendency to mitigate the effects of psychological strains on suicidality.


Crisis ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefanie Kirchner ◽  
Benedikt Till ◽  
Martin Plöderl ◽  
Thomas Niederkrotenthaler

Abstract. Background: The It Gets Better project aims to help prevent suicide among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and queer (LGBTIQ+) adolescents. It features personal video narratives portraying how life gets better when struggling with adversities. Research on the contents of messages is scarce. Aims: We aimed to explore the content of videos in the Austrian It Gets Better project regarding the representation of various LGBTIQ+ groups and selected content characteristics. Method: A content analysis of all German-language videos was conducted ( N = 192). Messages related to coming out, stressors experienced, suicidal ideation/behavior, and on how things get better were coded. Results: Representation was strong for gay men ( n = 45; 41.7%). Coming out to others was mainly positively framed ( n = 31; 46.3%) and seen as a tool to make things better ( n = 27; 37.5%). Social support ( n = 42; 62.7%) and self-acceptance ( n = 37; 55.2%) were prevalent topics. Common stressors included a conservative setting ( n = 18, 26.9%), and fear of outing ( n = 17; 25.4%). Suicidality ( n = 9; 4.7%) and options to get professional help ( n = 7; 8.2%) were rarely addressed. Limitations: Only aspects explicitly brought up in the videos were codeable. Conclusion: Videos do not fully represent gender identities and sexual orientations. Messaging on suicidality and professional help require strengthening to tailor them better for suicide prevention.


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