A comparison of the frequency and types of emotional terms and metaphors in narrative samples of healthy adults by gender

The aim of this study is to examine whether the frequency and types of emotional and metaphorical terms used in narrative samples of healthy adults differ by gender. The study seeks to reveal, within the context of social cognition, whether individuals' linguistic expressions vary according to gender. A total of 150 healthy individuals, including 75 females and 75 males with no prior diagnoses or neurological/psychiatric disorders, and matched for age and educational level, participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 37.5 years. The educational distribution was as follows: 48.66% university graduates, 37.99% high school graduates, and 13.33% middle school graduates. During data collection, participants were shown four video-based real-life scenarios themed around "bride, groom, and sister-in-law," and at the end of each segment, they were asked open-ended questions. The verbal responses provided by the participants were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed in terms of emotional, metaphorical, cognitive, and linguistic terms. Data were evaluated using independent-samples t-tests and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The findings indicated that gender did not produce statistically significant differences in the frequency or types of emotional, metaphorical, cognitive, or linguistic terms used. Although female participants were observed to use more emotionally expressive language, this difference did not reach statistical significance. These results suggest that gender alone is not a determining variable in narrative-based language use. Instead, individuals' linguistic expressions appear to be shaped by more complex factors such as personal experiences, social roles, and cultural influences. This study is expected to contribute to the literature examining the influence of gender on the relationship between social cognition and language use.