Unlike a physical ailment with clear symptoms, major depression manifests uniquely in each person. Some may cry a lot, while others feel numb, making depression hard to recognize and empathize with. Yet one unified trait remains at its core: It simply feels bad.
Understanding Well-Being Through Words
The idea that language can shape people’s experience of the world was introduced in the mid-19th century by Edward Sapir and Benjamin Whorf through the theory of linguistic relativity. Studying people’s language habits can provide insights into that experience.Over the past several decades, advances in computer text analysis have enabled researchers to ascertain patterns in motivation, mood, and other psychological variables by categorizing and tallying the frequency of certain words. For instance, over a decade ago, psychologist James Pennebaker used computerized text analyses to look at the use of a narrow range of words, including pronouns and and prepositions in hundreds of thousands of books, blogs, tweets, texts, and more. He shared his process and insights into the mental states of people writing that material in “The Secret Life of Pronouns: What Our Words Say About Us.”
We might expect that happy people tend to use upbeat words like “happy,” “joy,” or “excited” universally. However, words predicting well-being can differ across populations. For urban dwellers, satisfaction could manifest in words like “ideas,” “services,” or “entertainment.” Meanwhile, contented rural folk might reference “trip,” “camping,” or “mountains.”
Inside the Online Worlds of Depression
A recent study analyzed over 1.3 million posts across 43 subreddits to understand how different online communities discuss depression. Reddit is an anonymous online forum that lets users discuss and share posts around topics of interest, including seeking mental health support and connecting with others facing similar struggles.Depression and Self-Perception
The researchers first examined how specific depressive symptoms correlated with linguistic patterns. The findings were telling.Individuals expressing a lack of control over their lives were less likely to use first-person pronouns like “I” and “me.” They tended to discuss things detachedly using words like “it” or “they.” This group also shared less about emotions, especially negative ones, health, or personal problems. However, they often mentioned money and leisure pursuits potentially related to that loss of control.
In contrast, people voicing suicidal ideation referenced themselves and focused heavily on negative emotions. Family featured as another core topic for this demographic.
Specific Words Linked to Specific Symptoms
Looking closer at the vocabulary linked to each subset of depression, further nuances emerged.The research team predicted what terms would be used most often in association with particular symptoms of depression.
Returning to the individuals who evinced loss of control, some of the most highly probable content revolved around games and play. Yet they seldom mentioned school, family, or loneliness. Conversely, the lonely group fixated the most on relationships.
Reddit users exhibiting suicidal thoughts frequently noted family discord, especially with mothers, alongside control issues and emotions like anger or worthlessness. Discussions of self-harm—including cutting, scars, etc.—were also more prevalent here than in other categories.
Moreover, anxious individuals were much more likely to discuss their medical diagnoses, as well as a range of somatic complaints and lack of sleep. They were more prone to share about life stressors like school, parents, and time pressures.
Perspective on Coping
As the saying goes, “The devil is in the details.” It pays to notice the specific words people use to describe themselves and take stock of what that could mean. From a clinical psychology perspective, linguistic patterns offer meaningful clues into both the drivers of depression and potential avenues for support.Those perceiving a lack of control often cope through gaming or activities that facilitate disengagement from social connections or emotions. For some, this could be adaptive coping. However, taken to extremes, this withdrawal could worsen outcomes and require adjusting course.
On the other hand, anxious individuals may benefit most from sharing feelings, provided it occurs in constructive communities rather than groups reinforcing negative mindsets.
Few things feel worse when you’re feeling low than when someone presumes to grasp your suffering but lacks proper understanding. Insights from linguistic text analysis may help to approach depression as the multifaceted phenomenon it is while tailoring care to what weighs most heavily on a person’s psyche.
