Bereavement after Suicide: A Study of Memorials on the Internet

Abstract

This study compared the written memorials on websites posted by survivors of suicide with those written by people who had lost a significant other from natural causes, using a computer program, the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. Thirteen significant differences were identified and, in addition, 13 differences that approach significance. Memorials written by survivors of suicide had longer sentences and used longer words. They had more death-related words, fewer references to the self or to the deceased (“you”), and more words reflective of anger and sadness. The results suggest the deaths from suicide had a more profound impact on the survivors than the natural deaths and results in greater emotional distress.

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