Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language
The use of a foreign language has been introduced in the clinical setting as a form of emotional distance to help deal with negative experiences. However, the evidence of foreign language reducing emotionality during processing negative events is still scarce. This study aims to test whether the des...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Psychology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133915/full |
| _version_ | 1827946822733135872 |
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| author | Isabel Ortigosa-Beltrán Irene Jaén Azucena García-Palacios |
| author_facet | Isabel Ortigosa-Beltrán Irene Jaén Azucena García-Palacios |
| author_sort | Isabel Ortigosa-Beltrán |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The use of a foreign language has been introduced in the clinical setting as a form of emotional distance to help deal with negative experiences. However, the evidence of foreign language reducing emotionality during processing negative events is still scarce. This study aims to test whether the description and processing of a traumatic or highly emotional event in a foreign language could modulate the strength of the connection between traumatic symptomatology and emotional reaction. For this purpose, a sample of 128 healthy participants completed a series of questionnaires via an online platform. Firstly, their levels of distress, arousal and valence were assessed in their native language. Secondly, they were assigned to either the native language or the foreign language group and described a negative childhood event in the assigned language (English or Spanish), followed by five questions for processing the event. Next, their emotionality was assessed again in their native language. Finally, a questionnaire of traumatic stress symptoms and an avoidance scale were completed. Results showed that the relationship between traumatic symptomatology and emotionality was moderated by the language of processing the negative event. Specifically, traumatic symptomatology was more strongly associated with distress and arousal change when the processing task was performed in the native language. These findings suggest the influence of a foreign language on emotional reactivity when a negative experience is processed, which could be an essential tool in the treatment of disorders related to stress and trauma. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T11:06:24Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-5d78e767ffe04b368d1a26b72718b7ed |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-1078 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T11:06:24Z |
| publishDate | 2023-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-5d78e767ffe04b368d1a26b72718b7ed2023-05-16T05:37:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782023-05-011410.3389/fpsyg.2023.11339151133915Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign languageIsabel Ortigosa-Beltrán0Irene Jaén1Azucena García-Palacios2Center for Brain and Cognition, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, SpainDepartment of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Castellón, SpainDepartment of Basic and Clinical Psychology and Psychobiology, Jaume I University, Castellón, SpainThe use of a foreign language has been introduced in the clinical setting as a form of emotional distance to help deal with negative experiences. However, the evidence of foreign language reducing emotionality during processing negative events is still scarce. This study aims to test whether the description and processing of a traumatic or highly emotional event in a foreign language could modulate the strength of the connection between traumatic symptomatology and emotional reaction. For this purpose, a sample of 128 healthy participants completed a series of questionnaires via an online platform. Firstly, their levels of distress, arousal and valence were assessed in their native language. Secondly, they were assigned to either the native language or the foreign language group and described a negative childhood event in the assigned language (English or Spanish), followed by five questions for processing the event. Next, their emotionality was assessed again in their native language. Finally, a questionnaire of traumatic stress symptoms and an avoidance scale were completed. Results showed that the relationship between traumatic symptomatology and emotionality was moderated by the language of processing the negative event. Specifically, traumatic symptomatology was more strongly associated with distress and arousal change when the processing task was performed in the native language. These findings suggest the influence of a foreign language on emotional reactivity when a negative experience is processed, which could be an essential tool in the treatment of disorders related to stress and trauma.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133915/fullforeign languagebilingualismautobiographical memoriesmoderationemotion |
| spellingShingle | Isabel Ortigosa-Beltrán Irene Jaén Azucena García-Palacios Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language Frontiers in Psychology foreign language bilingualism autobiographical memories moderation emotion |
| title | Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| title_full | Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| title_fullStr | Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| title_full_unstemmed | Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| title_short | Processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| title_sort | processing negative autobiographical memories in a foreign language |
| topic | foreign language bilingualism autobiographical memories moderation emotion |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1133915/full |
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