@article{ref1,
title="An empirical analysis of internet message boards for self-harming behavior",
journal="Archives of suicide research",
year="2016",
author="Eichenberg, Christiane and Schott, Markus",
volume="ePub",
number="ePub",
pages="ePub-ePub",
abstract="BACKGROUND: Much debate surrounds the potential effects of self-harm forum use. Arguments in favour highlight factors such as providing access to a supportive community. However critical voice highlighting potential dangers such as forums serving as a platform to promote self-harm, clearly dominate the debate. <br><br>OBJECTIVE: Using an online questionnaire, the goal of the current study was to examine sociodemographic characteristics, the psychopathology of forum users, motives for participating, as well as subjective effects of self-harm forum use. <br><br>RESULTS: Three hundred and nine self-harm forum users participated in this study. Three heterogeneous user types with differing motives for visiting the forum and different usage effects were identified. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS: The results question the assumptions that self-harm forums are a source of harm and point to their predominantly constructive and preventive functions.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="1381-1118",
doi="10.1080/13811118.2016.1259597",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13811118.2016.1259597"
}