People who say 'me', 'myself' and 'I' frequently are more likely to suffer with depression and anxiety, according to new research.

 

Scientists at the University of Kassel, Germany, found that people who use first-person singular pronouns the most are more likely to be depressed¹ than those who tend to use plural² pronouns, such as 'we'.

 

The researchers, led by Dr Johannes Zimmerman, interviewed 15 men and 103 women, most of whom were being treated for conditions such as depression and anxiety disorder³.

 

The interviewers asked the participants about their past, their relationships, and their self-perception, according to Medical Daily.

 

They found that people who say 'me' and 'I' 'tend to be more depressed, and that they also have more difficulties with interpersonal behavior such as interacting in a group of people.

 

For example, these people were more likely to attention-seek and to be unable to spend time alone.

 

By contrast, those who use words like 'we' a lot were better at maintaining appropriate social boundaries in their relationships while still having a healthy social life.

 

Dr Zimmerman told Medical Daily: 'Using first-person singular pronouns highlights the self as a distinct entity⁴ whereas, using first-person plural pronouns emphasize [being part of] social relationships.'

 

As a result, Dr Zimmerman believes that people who use the singular pronouns tend to be needier.

点击收听单词发音