Effects of language usage on the emotional experience of Spanish-English and English-Spanish bilinguals

Abstract

This study assessed the effects of the mother tongue and the second tongue on the affective experience of 80 English-Spanish and Spanish-English coordinate bilinguals. Ss were randomly assigned to a mother tongue condition or a 2nd language condition. It was predicted that Ss would express more affect in their mother tongue. Results of a MANCOVA revealed a statistically significant interaction in which English-Spanish bilinguals expressed more affect in their 2nd language (Spanish) and Spanish-English bilinguals expressed more affect in their mother tongue (Spanish). That is, all Ss answered with significantly greater affect in the Spanish language condition, and they differed in levels of anxiety and depression depending on which language they were using. Implications are discussed for the psychological assessment of bilinguals as well as for psychotherapy.