University of Twente Student Theses
How Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Vulnerable to Trauma Narrate Their Experience : A Computational Linguistic Analysis of COVID-19 Patients' Experiences during and after Hospitalization
Bie, M.J. van der (2024) How Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients Vulnerable to Trauma Narrate Their Experience : A Computational Linguistic Analysis of COVID-19 Patients' Experiences during and after Hospitalization.
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| Abstract: | The COVID-19 pandemic, which started in late 2019, had caused many infections and deaths worldwide by November 2023. Not only the physical effects, but its psychological impact on hospitalized patients with the development of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) has gained significant attention. This study explores the language use of COVID-19 patients, to understand their experience of trauma. The study used a mixed-method approach combining quantitative text mining with qualitative interpretation by analysing the narratives from 36 patients scoring low and 36 patients scoring high on PTSD symptomatology. These patients were admitted to the ZGT and MST hospitals in The Netherlands due to their COVID-19 infection. The patients provided two stories: their admission story and their recovery story, along with completing the PCL-5 questionnaire on PTSD symptomatology. The analysis consisted of a comparison of language use (topics and sentiment) in the two stories of high and low PTSD symptomatology, complemented by qualitative interpretation. The results have revealed distinct differences between the subgroups. Patients with low PTSD symptomatology show a positive and accepting perspective toward their hospital admission, focusing strongly on procedural knowledge and expressions of optimism about their recovery. Conversely, patients with high PTSD symptomatology show emotional struggles and isolation. Their narratives are embedded with negative sentiments that reflect pessimism and distress. The findings can serve as a foundation for future research, underscoring the importance of clear information provision at the start of admission, social support, and considering comorbidities. Keywords: COVID-19, posttraumatic stress disorder, trauma, hospitalization, computational text mining |
| Item Type: | Essay (Master) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology MSc (66604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/101162 |
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