An Analysis of Memes on Bipolar Disorder

Cassandra Jones

Social media has given people a new form of interaction and connection. People use social media to communicate with others and create online communities. This study investigates how people connected on an anonymous Reddit page dedicated to memes about bipolar disorders, which are mental conditions marked by alternating periods of elation (i.e., mania or hypomania) and depression. Memes are humorous images, videos, pieces of text, and other material that are copied and spread rapidly by internet users. A coding system was used to sort and evaluate 98 memes based on 1) representation of bipolar disorders, 2) classification of subject matter, 3) representation of mania, 4) representation of depression, 5) valence from positive to negative, 6) level of agreement in the comments, 7) level of social support in the comments. Most memes were about symptoms of bipolar disorders (n = 64), but a smaller amount of memes were about social reactions (n = 17), medication (n = 12), and therapy (n = 5). Memes about medication or social reactions were portrayed in a more negative light than those about symptoms. Also, the study found a positive correlation between agreement and social support in the comments, meaning people felt more social support from fellow Redditors when they agreed more with the meme. Research on how people with bipolar disorders connect with others is important to better understand and improve treatment, such as helping to identify where mental health professionals are lacking.

• Cassandra Jones is a junior psychology major in the Honors College from Spartanburg, South Carolina. She is currently the co-social chair for the Honors College Leadership Council, co-president of Animal Advocates, and is working on a manuscript for publication. She plans on pursuing her master’s degree in counseling following graduation from Lander.