title: Word Use and Content Analysis of the First Verses of Six National Anthems: A Transcultural Aspect of Suicidal Behaviour.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Suicide is a major health concern worldwide, although suicide rates widely differ among different countries and cultures. Transcultural studies suggest that national anthems reflect national attitudes towards self-harming behaviour as well. Our aim was to analyse the linguistic characteristics of six national anthems, and compare these results with national suicide rates.
  
  
  METHODS
  Word use assessment and content analysis of six national anthems were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the anthems of countries with similar historical or cultural background, similar linguistic patterns were found in word use and in content. Anthems of countries with lower suicide rates tend to contain relatively more positive contents, emotions and intentions, while in the anthems of countries with higher suicide rates more ambivalence, denial, loss or even aggressive and self-destructive implications were found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This transcultural analysis strengthens previous data that anthems could be indicators for national attitudes toward self-harm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Faculty of Medicine, University of Pecs, H-7623 Pecs, Ret u. 2., Hungary, voros.viktor@pte.hu.
authors.forename: Viktor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Voros
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Osvath
authors.forename: Orsolya
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Vincze
authors.forename: Katalin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pusztay
authors.forename: Sandor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fekete
authors.forename: Zoltan
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Rihmer
mesh_terms: D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D004644:Emotions; D006801:Humans; D011037:Poetry as Topic; D013405:Suicide / Q000208:ethnology*