TY - JOUR
T1 - Linguistic distancing predicts response to a digital single-session intervention for adolescent depression
AU - Cohen, Katherine A.
AU - Shroff, Akash
AU - Nook, Erik C.
AU - Schleider, Jessica L.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health ( DP5OD028123 ). KAC receives grant support from a Stony Brook University Graduate Research Fellowship. ECN serves on the Scientific Advisory Board for Walden Wise, Inc. JLS receives grant support from the National Institutes of Health ( DP5OD28123 ), the National Science Foundation , the Klingenstein Third Generation Foundation , the American Psychological Foundation , the Society for Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, and the Upswing Fund for Adolescent Mental Health. JLS has co-authored and received royalties from the sale of a therapeutic workbook for adolescents, published by New Harbinger. JLS is under contract with Oxford University Press to co-edit a book on low-intensity mental health interventions for youth. JLS serves on the Scientific or Clinical Advisory Boards for Walden Wise, Inc. and Koko AI and has ownership interest in Single Session Support Solutions, Inc. The authors report no other financial conflicts.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2022/12
Y1 - 2022/12
N2 - Examining the linguistic characteristics of youths' writing may be a promising method for detecting youth who are struggling. In this study, we examined linguistic patterns of adolescent responses to writing prompts in a large, well-powered trial of an evidence-based, digital single-session intervention teaching malleability beliefs about personal traits and symptoms (“growth mindset”). Participants who completed the intervention as part of a larger randomized control trial were included in this preregistered study (n = 638, https://osf.io/zqmxt). Participants’ responses were processed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. We tested correlations between linguistic variables (i.e., linguistic distancing, positive affect, negative affect, insight, certainty), baseline outcome variables, post-intervention outcome variables, and 3-month post-intervention outcome variables. We also used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression models to identify key predictors of treatment outcomes. As hypothesized, greater use of linguistic distancing was associated with lower levels of baseline hopelessness and higher levels of perceived agency. Additionally, per LASSO models including all linguistic variables, greater use of linguistic distancing predicted larger reductions in depressive symptoms from baseline to three-month follow-up. Linguistic distancing appeared to account for 27% of the variance in depression trajectories when also accounting for baseline depression.
AB - Examining the linguistic characteristics of youths' writing may be a promising method for detecting youth who are struggling. In this study, we examined linguistic patterns of adolescent responses to writing prompts in a large, well-powered trial of an evidence-based, digital single-session intervention teaching malleability beliefs about personal traits and symptoms (“growth mindset”). Participants who completed the intervention as part of a larger randomized control trial were included in this preregistered study (n = 638, https://osf.io/zqmxt). Participants’ responses were processed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. We tested correlations between linguistic variables (i.e., linguistic distancing, positive affect, negative affect, insight, certainty), baseline outcome variables, post-intervention outcome variables, and 3-month post-intervention outcome variables. We also used Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) regression models to identify key predictors of treatment outcomes. As hypothesized, greater use of linguistic distancing was associated with lower levels of baseline hopelessness and higher levels of perceived agency. Additionally, per LASSO models including all linguistic variables, greater use of linguistic distancing predicted larger reductions in depressive symptoms from baseline to three-month follow-up. Linguistic distancing appeared to account for 27% of the variance in depression trajectories when also accounting for baseline depression.
KW - Depression
KW - Growth mindset
KW - Linguistic distancing
KW - Single-session intervention
KW - Youth
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U2 - 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104220
DO - 10.1016/j.brat.2022.104220
M3 - Article
C2 - 36323056
AN - SCOPUS:85143379565
SN - 0005-7967
VL - 159
JO - Behavioral Assessment
JF - Behavioral Assessment
M1 - 104220
ER -