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The Werther Effect, the Papageno Effect or No Effect? A Literature Review

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  • Jan Domaradzki

    (Department of Social Sciences and Humanities, Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences, ul. Rokietnicka 7, 60-806 Poznań, Poland)

Abstract

This paper examines the association between media reporting on suicides and the subsequent suicides. Scientific papers from two online bibliographic sources Medline (PubMed) and PsycINFO were searched. The sample included 108 research papers examining the impact of different types of media stories on suicides. The review revealed that although the media can be a double-edged sword and serve both as a risk and a protective factor, the vast majority of research suggests that the relationship between the media reporting and the actual suicide rates is causal and real. Moreover, both the quantity and the quality of media reporting may trigger additional suicides in society. Simultaneously, research suggests that especially non-fictional presentations of celebrities’ suicides in newspapers and on television news have the biggest influence on the subsequent suicides. Additionally, a strong modelling effect of media reporting on suicide is based on nationality, age, and gender. However, research shows that because a negative reporting style can be modifiable and improved, the media can also have an educative or preventive effect and can reduce the risk of contagion. Consequently, it is important to monitor the implementation of media recommendations for the reporting of suicide, and continuous education of reporters is needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Jan Domaradzki, 2021. "The Werther Effect, the Papageno Effect or No Effect? A Literature Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-20, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2396-:d:508411
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    1. Sonneck, G. & Etzersdorfer, E. & Nagel-Kuess, S., 1994. "Imitative suicide on the Viennese subway," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 38(3), pages 453-457, February.
    2. David Moher & Alessandro Liberati & Jennifer Tetzlaff & Douglas G Altman & The PRISMA Group, 2009. "Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses: The PRISMA Statement," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 6(7), pages 1-6, July.
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    4. Yun Jeong Choi & Hyungna Oh, 2016. "Does Media Coverage of a Celebrity Suicide Trigger Copycat Suicides?: Evidence from Korean Cases," Journal of Media Economics, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 29(2), pages 92-105, April.
    5. Niederkrotenthaler, Thomas & Till, Benedikt & Kapusta, Nestor D. & Voracek, Martin & Dervic, Kanita & Sonneck, Gernot, 2009. "Copycat effects after media reports on suicide: A population-based ecologic study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(7), pages 1085-1090, October.
    6. Jae-Hyun Kim & Eun-Cheol Park & Jung-Mo Nam & SoHee Park & Jaelim Cho & Sun-Jung Kim & Jae-Woo Choi & Eun Cho, 2013. "The Werther Effect of Two Celebrity Suicides: an Entertainer and a Politician," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(12), pages 1-1, December.
    7. Tousignant, Michel & Mishara, Brian L. & Caillaud, Aline & Fortin, Veronique & St-Laurent, Danielle, 2005. "The impact of media coverage of the suicide of a well-known Quebec reporter: the case of Gaëtan Girouard," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 60(9), pages 1919-1926, May.
    8. Merike Sisask & Airi Värnik, 2012. "Media Roles in Suicide Prevention: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 9(1), pages 1-16, January.
    9. David S Fink & Julian Santaella-Tenorio & Katherine M Keyes, 2018. "Increase in suicides the months after the death of Robin Williams in the US," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 13(2), pages 1-12, February.
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    2. Daniela Stelzmann & Sara Jahnke & Laura F. Kuhle, 2022. "Media Coverage of Pedophilia and Its Impact on Help-Seeking Persons with Pedophilia in Germany—A Focus Group Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(15), pages 1-19, July.

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