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. 2022 Feb;26(1):104-121.
doi: 10.1177/13670069211022851. Epub 2021 Jun 11.

Language Changes Medical Judgments and Beliefs

Sayuri Hayakawa  1 , Yue Pan  1 , Viorica Marian  1
Affiliations

Language Changes Medical Judgments and Beliefs

Sayuri Hayakawa et al. Int J Billing. 2022 Feb.

Abstract

Aims and objectives: How health risks are communicated can have a substantial impact on medical judgments and choice. Here, we examine whether the language used to process health-related information systematically changes bilinguals' perceptions and preferences.

Methodology: Chinese-English bilinguals were presented with ten medical scenarios in either their native language (Mandarin Chinese; N = 76) or a second language (American English; N = 84) and made judgments regarding their familiarity with the medical conditions and the perceived severity of the possible symptoms (incurability, emotional distress, physical pain, social harm). Participants then rated their agreement with statements pertaining to beliefs about medical decision-making (trust in the good intentions of doctors, acceptability of challenging doctors, importance of involving family, preference for standard treatments, preference for experimental treatments).

Data and analysis: Linear mixed effects models were constructed for judgments of medical conditions and for beliefs regarding medical decision-making.

Findings and conclusions: Medical conditions were perceived to be easier to cure, less physically painful, and less emotionally distressing when processed in the second language, English. Using English also increased endorsement of beliefs (such as challenging doctors' opinions and accepting experimental treatments) that were more consistent with individualistic than collectivistic norms.We propose that the activation of emotions and values is linked to language, with consequences for how individuals make decisions that impact their health and well-being.

Originality: The present study is among the first to systematically examine the interactive psychological impact of language context and experience on judgments and beliefs in an applied medical domain.

Keywords: bilingualism; cultural priming; foreign language effect; language; medical beliefs; medical judgment.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Conflicting Interests The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Effects of language on medical evaluations. Medical conditions were perceived to be easier to cure, less physically painful, and less emotionally distressing when judgments were made in the L2 (English). Error bars represent standard error. *p < .05, **p < .01, ***p < .001.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Effects of language on beliefs about medical decision-making. Using L2 English significantly increased the perceived acceptability of challenging doctors’ opinions, as well as the preference for promising experimental treatments. Error bars represent standard error. *p < .05
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Effects of language on judgments of medical conditions for (a) simultaneous vs. sequential bilinguals and (b) bilinguals with balanced vs. unbalanced reading proficiency. Participants perceived medical conditions to be significantly more severe when using L1 Chinese compared to L2 English. This was particularly the case for simultaneous bilinguals and those who had balanced proficiency across their two languages. Error bars represent standard error. **p < .01
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Effects of language on each of the judgment measures for (a) simultaneous vs. sequential bilinguals and (b) bilinguals with balanced vs. unbalanced reading proficiency. Using L2 English significantly increased the perceived severity of physical pain, emotional distress, and social harm for simultaneous bilinguals and those with balanced reading proficiency. Error bars represent standard error. ***p < .001, **p < .01, *p < .05
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Effects of language on each of the belief measures for (a) simultaneous vs. sequential bilinguals and (b) bilinguals with balanced vs. unbalanced reading proficiency. Using L2 English significantly increased willingness to challenge doctors for simultaneous bilinguals with unbalanced proficiency. Using L2 English significantly increased willingness to accept experimental treatments for sequential bilinguals with balanced proficiency. Error bars represent standard error. **p < .01, *p < .05
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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