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How Do Recommended Elements in Suicide News Coverage Work? An Investigation of the Effect of Responsible Reporting and Readers’ Reflectiveness on Suicide Prevention

  • Youngkee Ju
  • , Sebastian Scherr
  • , Michael Prieler*
  • *Corresponding author for this work
  • Hallym University
  • Augsburg University
  • Media School

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

Abstract

To examine the effect of positive elements in suicide reporting guidelines, we assessed how responsible reporting on suicide (RRS) affect cognitive and intentional responses. We also investigated the moderating role of audience reflectiveness in news processing. Here, 308 individuals participated in a single-factor between-subject experiment conducted in South Korea. We manipulated the number of positive RRS features in news articles by adding suicide statistics, contact information for helplines, and efficacy-enforcing information. Overall, news articles containing multiple RRS elements had a stronger impact on behavioral intentions to help others in a suicidal crisis than a basic news article without RRS elements. Interestingly, reflectiveness had a stronger influence on individuals who read a suicide news report having the most RRS elements relative to those who read suicide news without any RRS elements, signifying an indirect impact of suicide news on intentions to help. The implications of this RRS effect identified are discussed in terms of suicide prevention.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1899-1905
Number of pages7
JournalHealth Communication
Volume39
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2024
Externally publishedYes

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

  1. SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
    SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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