Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums
Abstract Online peer support mental health forums provide an effective and accessible form of support, augmenting scarce clinical and face-to-face assistance. However, to enhance their effectiveness, it is essential to understand the unique characteristics of peer support user groups, and how they p...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50490-w |
| _version_ | 1797371141029888000 |
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| author | Yong-Bin Kang Anthony McCosker Jane Farmer |
| author_facet | Yong-Bin Kang Anthony McCosker Jane Farmer |
| author_sort | Yong-Bin Kang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Online peer support mental health forums provide an effective and accessible form of support, augmenting scarce clinical and face-to-face assistance. However, to enhance their effectiveness, it is essential to understand the unique characteristics of peer support user groups, and how they participate, contribute and communicate in these forums. This paper proposes and tests a novel approach that leverages stylometry analysis to uncover the unique characteristics of peer support user groups in such forums. Our approach identifies how each group empowers and supports other users, and what distinguishes them from others. The analysis shows that emotion-related words are crucial in identifying and distinguishing user groups based on their writing style. Comparative analysis of emotion expressions across user groups also uncovers the significance of emotional content in these forums in promoting mental well-being. Valued ‘senior contributors’ were more likely than all other groups including trained community guides to use a wide range of both positive and negative emotions in their posts. These findings have significant implications for improving the training of peer-mentors and moderators, scaling forum services, and improving guidelines for emotional expression among peer support users. Our approach presents an objective approach to differentiating the characteristics and communication patterns of valued senior contributors, mentors, and guides, enabling service providers to foster the kinds of communication that supports positive outcomes for distressed users. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:15:30Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5af7c48d00fb45b385a71a8181010628 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T18:15:30Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-5af7c48d00fb45b385a71a81810106282023-12-31T12:10:27ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222023-12-0113111410.1038/s41598-023-50490-wLeveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forumsYong-Bin Kang0Anthony McCosker1Jane Farmer2Australian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), Swinburne University of TechnologyAustralian Research Council (ARC) Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S), Swinburne University of TechnologySocial Innovation Research Institute, Swinburne University of TechnologyAbstract Online peer support mental health forums provide an effective and accessible form of support, augmenting scarce clinical and face-to-face assistance. However, to enhance their effectiveness, it is essential to understand the unique characteristics of peer support user groups, and how they participate, contribute and communicate in these forums. This paper proposes and tests a novel approach that leverages stylometry analysis to uncover the unique characteristics of peer support user groups in such forums. Our approach identifies how each group empowers and supports other users, and what distinguishes them from others. The analysis shows that emotion-related words are crucial in identifying and distinguishing user groups based on their writing style. Comparative analysis of emotion expressions across user groups also uncovers the significance of emotional content in these forums in promoting mental well-being. Valued ‘senior contributors’ were more likely than all other groups including trained community guides to use a wide range of both positive and negative emotions in their posts. These findings have significant implications for improving the training of peer-mentors and moderators, scaling forum services, and improving guidelines for emotional expression among peer support users. Our approach presents an objective approach to differentiating the characteristics and communication patterns of valued senior contributors, mentors, and guides, enabling service providers to foster the kinds of communication that supports positive outcomes for distressed users.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50490-w |
| spellingShingle | Yong-Bin Kang Anthony McCosker Jane Farmer Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums Scientific Reports |
| title | Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| title_full | Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| title_fullStr | Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| title_full_unstemmed | Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| title_short | Leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| title_sort | leveraging stylometry analysis to identify unique characteristics of peer support user groups in online mental health forums |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50490-w |
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