Difficulties in Emotional Regulation, Suicidal Behaviors and Social Media Posts: A Mixed Method Study Among Young Adults Using Semiotic Analysis

The study is an explanatory sequential mixed method design aimed at understanding the relationship between difficulties in regulating emotions and suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, we explored their pattern of social media engagement to identify cues or indications, if any. The quantitative component consists of 100 young adults (18-30 years) sampled using convenience and snowball sampling techniques. The Difficulty in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and Suicide Behaviors Questionnaire (SBQ) were administered. Spearman rank-order correlation analysis establishes a moderate positive correlation (r s (100) = .400, p < .0005) between difficulties in regulating emotions and suicidal behaviors. Furthermore, for the qualitative component, 15 participants were chosen, with five in each category of 1) difficulty regulating emotions and suicidal behaviors, 2) difficulty regulating emotions but no suicidal behaviors and 3) no difficulty regulating emotions but suicidal behaviors. Their active social media account was accessed with consent, and semiotic analysis of their posts from June 2020 to February 2021 was performed, as data collection spanned the timespan. Saussure and Pierce’s concept of semiotic analysis is adopted as the framework for the analysis. The results reveal some common and specific categories of signified in the domain of interpersonal relationships, intrapersonal relationships, coping activities, social implications, thought process/cognitions and attitudinal modifications. The connotations and myths associated with the same are also explored within the cultural framework. The results are then triangulated with the quantitative component to provide a broader understanding of the intricate links between the variables.