Behavioral and linguistic characteristics of microblog users with various suicide ideation level:an explanatory study

ObjectiveTo compare the differences in linguistic and behavioral features of microblog users with various suicide ideation level and to identify the users with high suicide ideation for possible real-time assessment of suicide probability through social network platform.MethodsMicroblog users were recruited to participate an online survey and 982 respondents completed the survey.The respondents were divided into either high or low suicide ideation group according to their scores measured with the Suicide Probability Scale.The differences between the two groups in 10 behavioral and 88 linguistic features in microblog activities were analyzed.ResultsThe average Suicide Probability Scale score was 69.7±11.9 for all respondents;compared to the male respondents,the female had a higher subscale score of hostility(13.2±2.6 vs.12.7±2.4,P<0.05)and scaled a lower subscale score of desperation(24.4±4.7 vs.25.0±4.7,P<0.05).Suicide ideation level was negatively correlated with social activeness and the frequency of future word use(r=-0.082,-0.073,all P<0.05)and positively correlated with nocturnal activeness and frequent use of third person singular and negative word(r=0.081,0.077,0.066,all P<0.05).The respondents of high suicide ideation were less social interactive,expressed themselves less in first person plural,used "future words" less frequently,were more active at night,and used "death words" more frequently than those of low suicide ideation group(P<0.05).ConclusionMicroblog users with higher suicide ideation demonstrate significant differences from those with lower suicide ideation in terms of linguistic and microblog behavioral features.The study supports further exploration on online identification of suicidal individuals.