Linguistic markers of rumination in military personnel: A psycholinguistic analysis of narratives and inner speech

Abstract

This comprehensive psycholinguistic study examined linguistic markers of rumination among military personnel, aiming to identify cognitive, emotional, and behavioral markers that reflect maladaptive thinking in the context of combat and post-combat experiences. The study involved 477 members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (M = 39.18, SD = 9.1), who underwent psychodiagnostic assessment using the Ruminative Responses Scale and provided written or oral narratives analyzed through content analysis methods. The findings indicated that ruminative thinking was represented through specific linguistic markers: introspective verbs (e.g., "to think," "to reflect," "to analyze"), emotionally charged vocabulary (e.g., "fatigue," "loneliness," "guilt"), interrogative constructions and rhetorical questions, as well as expressions of helplessness, self-evaluation, and social withdrawal. These markers were categorized into cognitive, emotional, and behavioral parameters. A comparative analysis before and after psychological intervention revealed an overall reduction in the intensity of rumination, particularly among respondents with initially low levels of ruminative tendency. In contrast, participants with moderate to high rumination levels exhibited only marginal improvement, suggesting the persistence of maladaptive thinking patterns. This highlights the need for differentiated and prolonged approaches to psychological support. The results underscore the value of psycholinguistic analysis as a tool for psychological assessment and monitoring. Psycholinguistic markers of rumination may serve as a significant source of insight into the inner state of military personnel, capturing the dynamics of emotional exhaustion and cognitive entrapment. The proposed approach enhances traditional methods of psychological evaluation and offers a deeper understanding of adaptation or maladaptation mechanisms under combat stress.