Study finds replacing problematic language does not improve well-being

A new study published in the Journal of Open Inquiry in the Behavioral Sciences suggests that replacing supposedly problematic words with alternatives does not significantly improve psychological well-being. Researchers from MacEwan University in Canada and Stetson University in Florida surveyed 616 US adults, asking them to rate 175 pairs of words and phrases flagged by institutional language guides.

These guides, often issued by academic or professional organizations like the American Psychological Association and Stanford University, recommend swapping terms such as ‘master bedroom’ for ‘primary bedroom,’ ‘blind review’ for ‘anonymous review,’ and ‘pipeline’ for ‘pathway.’ The stated goal of these interventions is to dismantle hierarchies and reduce distress for marginalized groups.

However, the research found that everyday people generally do not find these targeted words offensive, and members of marginalized groups did not appear to be more affected by the language. The study notes that such shifts may be an example of ‘concept creep,’ where the definition of harm expands to include mild or ambiguous terms. Additionally, the findings align with previous research suggesting that interventions like trigger warnings may increase anxiety rather than reducing emotional distress.