Nadia Y Ahmad1, Michael H Farrell2. 1. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA. Electronic address: nahmad@mcw.edu. 2. Center for Patient Care and Outcomes Research, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, USA.
Abstract
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.
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.