top of page

Subscribe to get the latest updates from Receptiviti

Language Use and Depression: Link Established by Meta-Analysis


In this study, researchers explore the link between first person singular pronoun use and depression. By conducting a meta-analysis of correlations between pronoun use and individual differences in depression, the study provides important insights into the theories, identification, assessment, and treatment of this mental health condition. The meta-analysis included numerous unpublished correlations, providing a more comprehensive view of the correlation between pronoun use and depression.


The results of the meta-analysis reveal a small correlation between first person singular pronoun use and depression, which is not moderated by gender or whether the effect has been published. The fixed effects analysis found a correlation of r = 0.13, 95% CI = [0.10–0.16], which is useful across demographic lines. This study firmly establishes first person singular pronoun use as a linguistic marker of depression, highlighting the importance of language in understanding and treating mental health conditions.


Read the research: A meta-analysis of correlations between depression and first person singular pronoun use

Subscribe to the blog and get notified of new content:

Customer Stories

Customer Stories and Use Cases

Organizations of all sizes have integrated Receptiviti into their technologies and processes to uncover critical insights about the people who matter to their businesses.