Linguistic markers of emotion in mothers of sickle cell carrier infants: what are they and what do they mean? Patient Educ Couns 2014 Jan;94(1):128-33
Date
11/05/2013Pubmed ID
24183069Pubmed Central ID
PMC3865165DOI
10.1016/j.pec.2013.09.021Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84890165482 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 10 CitationsAbstract
OBJECTIVE: The objectives were to examine emotion-related language in mothers' narratives about newborn screening, and test the correlations between language and self-reported emotion and behavior.
METHODS: Transcripts of interviews with mothers of infant sickle cell carriers were analyzed with word count software for the prevalence of emotion-related words in narratives about newborn screening. Word counts were compared to population norms for spoken language using one-sample t-tests. Anxiety-related words were correlated with self-reported anxiety and avoidance of genetic testing.
RESULTS: 187 transcripts were analyzed, in which there was a higher percentage of anxiety words (m=.38%) than population norms (m=.18%), t(186)=10.59, p<.001, CI=.16-.23. Anxiety-related word use was positively correlated with self-reported previous anxiety, rs(185)=.24, p=.001. Self-reported previous anxiety, but not word use, was correlated with mothers' avoidance of undergoing genetic testing themselves rs(152)=.25, p=.002.
CONCLUSION: Mothers of sickle cell carrier infants reported anxiety upon learning their child's condition. Anxiety-related words in maternal narratives were correlated with their reports of past, but not present, emotions.
PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS: Researchers and clinicians should use caution in assuming that word choices reflect state emotions. Self-report methods may be preferable for predicting behavioral outcomes.
Author List
Ahmad NY, Farrell MHMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
Anemia, Sickle CellEmotions
Female
Genetic Testing
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Interviews as Topic
Linguistics
Male
Mothers
Neonatal Screening
Surveys and Questionnaires