Linguistics, Compassion, and Health: CBCT & Differences in the Linguistic Characteristics of Hospital Chaplains Pubblico

Abstract

This study examined the differences in linguistic characteristics of hospital chaplains who received cognitively based compassion training (CBCT) compared to those who did not during chaplain consults. This study also aimed to understand the associations between hospital chaplains’ linguistic behavior and patient-reported mental health. Hospital chaplains (N= 15) were previously assigned to either intervention (CBCT and CCSH) or waitlist group (standard CPE training). Participating chaplains were shadowed during hospital shifts and recorded inpatient consults (N= 122). Pre-consultation, patients completed consent and a distress thermometer. Post-consult patients completed measures of hospital anxiety and depression (HADS). Chaplain-patient consults were transcribed and analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry Word Count (LIWC). LIWC uses a dictionary to identify and categorize words in transcribed texts into pre-set categories based on psychological dimensions. We used independent t-tests to analyze differences between distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms among patients who encountered intervention chaplains compared to waitlist chaplains. Pearson’s correlation was used to analyze the associations in patient and chaplain speech within each group. Results showed that intervention chaplains showed linguistic characteristics that favored pronoun usage, specifically impersonal pronouns, and you, more than their waitlist peers, who favored anger words. Waitlist and intervention chaplain-patient speech showed about an equal amount of significant positive associations with variations in association by LIWC category. Waitlist and intervention group patients didn’t significantly differ in anxiety scores, but intervention patients reported significantly lower depressive symptoms than waitlist patients. These findings suggest that CBCT is a viable training option for hospital chaplains alongside CPE training.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents 

CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1

CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 5

Patient Wellbeing 5

Provider-Patient Communication 6

The Role of Hospital Chaplains 7

Theoretical Background 8

Cognitively Based Compassion Training (CBCT) 8

Communication Accommodation Theory 10

Person-Centered Communication 11

Research Gap and Study Aims 12

CHAPTER 3: METHODS 14

Participants 14

Study Design & Procedures 14

Data Collection 15

Data Management 16

Measures 17

Data Analysis 19

CHAPTER 4: RESULTS 20

Primary Findings 20

Secondary Findings 22

CHAPTER 5: DISCUSSION 24

Strengths and Limitations 26

REFERENCES 29

APPENDICES 39

Appendix A 39

Appendix B 39

Appendix C 40

Appendix D 41

Appendix E 42

Appendix F 43

Appendix G 44

Appendix H 45

About this Master's Thesis

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• Permission granted by the author to include this thesis or dissertation in this repository. All rights reserved by the author. Please contact the author for information regarding the reproduction and use of this thesis or dissertation.

School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Behavioral Sciences and Health Education
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Psychology, Behavioral Sciences Religion, General Language, Linguistics
Parola chiave	CBCT LIWC compassion chaplains HADS patients
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Elizabeth Walker, Emory University
Committee Members	Jennifer Mascaro, Emory University

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