Exploring the Role of Language in Spiritual Health Consultations: Insights From an Ecological Model of Recovery on Depression and Anxiety

ObjectiveConsultations conducted by spiritual health clinicians (SHC; also known as healthcare chaplains) offer a unique context for patients to express themselves and are associated with reduced stress and enhanced satisfaction. The language used during these consults may provide insights into emotions and recovery trajectories. This study aimed to characterize patient language in spiritual health consults and examine its relationship to mental health outcomes, evaluated within the Ecological Model of Recovery (EMR) framework.MethodsSHCs conducted consultations with 212 patients in five acute-care hospitals in the urban south. Pre-consult distress and post-consult anxiety and depression were measured. Consults were audio recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC-22). Linguistic indicators of emotion and EMR-related variables were examined. Spearman's rank-order correlation and Mann-Whitney U tests assessed the relationship between patient language and mental health outcomes.ResultsLanguage reflecting confidence and discussions about lifestyle and religious topics were associated with lower post-consult anxiety and depression, highlighting the importance of positive self-perception and structured, meaningful activities in recovery. Language related to social connections was negatively associated with depression, while language indicative of differentiation or conflict correlated with higher depression levels.ConclusionThis study underscores the relationship between patient language during spiritual health consultations and mental health outcomes, emphasizing the therapeutic value of expressive communication. Verbal expression plays a crucial role in emotional recovery, as linguistic patterns in healthcare settings can reflect and influence psychological well-being. Prospective research is needed to fully explore these effects.