Metaphorical identity construction of depression sufferers on Chinese social media

Bibliographic Data

ID21282199
AuthorsQiaoyun Liao (0000-0002-9169-4196, Shanghai International Studies University), Wenmin Lin (0000-0002-2423-7542, Shanghai International Studies University), Xin Weng (0000-0002-9564-4284, East China University of Science and Technology, corresponding author)
Year2026
Volume264
Pages106541
Publication date2026-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueActa Psychologica (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0001-6918 • E-ISSN: 1873-6297
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.actpsy.2026.106541
PMID41740359
OpenAlexW7131279152
LanguageEN
References cited48

While prior research has documented various metaphors of depression, their role in identity construction in online communication remains underexplored, particularly in a Chinese cultural context. Drawing on a corpus-assisted analysis of Chinese Weibo posts, this study investigates how depression sufferers use metaphors of “depression” and “self” to construct identities. Metaphors were identified following the Metaphor Identification Procedure (MIP) and coded by two trained coders, with cross-checking and further discussion involving three native Chinese speakers. Results revealed that “depression” was conceptualized as CONTAINER, ENEMY, DESCENT, DARKNESS, WEIGHT, and EVIL BEING, while “self” was conceptualized as OBJECT, CONTAINER, MACHINE, and EVIL BEING. Based on the relations (i.e., self and depression, self and others, and self and society) entailed in these metaphors, there were six identities constructed by depression sufferers, negotiating with the overarching social identity of “People with Depression”. Identities such as “the Trapped,” “the Repressed,” “the Indifferent,” “the Useless,” and “the Deviant” reinforce the passive dimensions of depression sufferers, whereas “the Fighter” identity challenges the dominant stigmatized perceptions of depression sufferers. By identifying culturally situated depression metaphors and their associated identity positions on Chinese social media, this study underscores metaphor's role in conceptualizing depression and advances research on metaphor–identity dynamics, offering insights for mental health interventions in clinical therapies. • Metaphors and identity construction of depression patients on Chinese social media • Depression conceptualized as CONTAINER, ENEMY, DESCENT, DARKNESS, WEIGHT, EVIL BEING • Self conceptualized as OBJECT, CONTAINER, MACHINE, and EVIL BEING • Six constructed identities, negotiating with the identity “People with depression” • These identities reinforce stuckness while challenging the stigmatized perceptions

Construct (python library) · Depression (economics) · Identity (music) · Identity negotiation · Metaphor · Negotiation · Psychological intervention · Situated · Social identity approach · Empathy and Medical Education · Language, Metaphor, and Cognition · Mental Health via Writing

Tools

Open DOIOpen Access