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Pronoun Use as a Linguistic Representation of Agency and Communion in a Life-review Intervention for People With Mild Depression

Müller, P.A.M. (2017) Pronoun Use as a Linguistic Representation of Agency and Communion in a Life-review Intervention for People With Mild Depression.

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Abstract:The use of function words is considered a linguistic representation of agency and communion, and does as well reflect one’s mental health, e.g. depression and well-being. With respect to their linguistic representations however, contractions are found. First person singular pronouns and depression are negatively correlated, while agency, considered an important factor in the convalescence of depression, is positively associated with the use of first person singular pronouns. This study aims at investigating the syntactical representations of agency and communion, over the course of a narrative e-mail supported intervention, in relation to changes in depression and well-being. Textual data from e-mail conversations between participant and counsellor, and questionnaire data of the participants’ mental health are derived from the intervention ‘Op Verhaal Komen’. By the means of text-mining, using the parsing program GrETEL, the participants’ pronoun use is quantified. While mental health improved, also the use of first person singular pronouns significantly increased and the use of first person plural pronouns decreased. However, no relation between the use of pronouns and mental health, and no association between gender and syntax use could be found. This gives reason to pursue further investigation of pronoun use in the context of agency, communion and depression.
Item Type:Essay (Master)
Clients:
Unknown organization, Deutschland
Faculty:BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences
Subject:77 psychology
Programme:Psychology MSc (66604)
Link to this item:https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/73083
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