Self-mourning in the digital age: Insights from Douban's Online Graveyard in Chinese

This study provides an in-depth analysis of self-mourning discourse within the "Tomb/Grave for Oneself" section of Douban's Online Graveyard, focusing on the types, temporal patterns, and emotional self-regulation processes involved in Chinese. Using a mixed-methods approach, it draws on the Affective Lexicon Ontology to reveal the multidimensionality of emotional expressions in Chinese online self-mourning, encompassing both negative emotions (e.g., pain, depression, anxiety) and positive emotions (e.g., hope, like). These findings underscore the dual role of online self-mourning platforms as spaces for emotional disclosure and psychological healing. Furthermore, the study identifies a temporal trajectory in emotional expressions, transitioning from past-oriented negative emotions to future-oriented positive ones, signaling a shift from trauma to self-renewal. This emotional transformation aligns with the process model of self-focused emotion regulation (Gross, 1998, 2015, 2024), highlighting the mechanisms through which online self-mourners achieve psychological resilience. The findings offer new insights into the emotional dynamics of online self-disclosure and its potential for fostering mental well-being.