Identifying the 'Five Communication Languages of Women' to Promote Positive Mental Health There are fundamental differences in the way Americans communicate. Here, EvolveMKD shares five typical 'languages' women often identify with, and their possible impact on mental health.

Are you an over sharer? An initiator? Or a protector, perhaps?

As it turns out, Americans believe that the ways in which they communicate is directly linked to their mental health. Interesting, since women are more likely to be impacted by those surrounding them, with 69 percent of women letting other people's mental health affect their own.

These are the findings from the "Evolution of Communication" survey conducted by EvolveMKD, a New York City-based digital marketing and communications firm. EvolveMKD conducted the research in partnership with global market research firm Ipsos in two parts in August 2020 and March 2021. Each installment consisted of 15-minute online surveys, each fielded to 1,000 adult Americans.

According to the findings, seven in 10 people agree that mental health is tied to communication. And despite the vast new modes of communication over the last decade, women have been reporting greater declines than men in their mental health, despite the myth that women are "better communicators." Of the women who reported a change in their mental health, 55 percent said it has gotten worse over the last 10 years, compared to only 36 percent of men. And 75 percent said it has gotten worse over the last year, compared to 49 percent of men.

While women generally report a preference for in-person communication, the pandemic has dramatically reduced that option. Ninety-one percent of women said Covid-19 impacted the way they communicate with others. On top of that, one in four women said their relationships deteriorated because of Covid-19.

"We felt it was important to conduct this research because EvolveMKD understands the ins and outs of the industry and marketing to women," EvolveMKD CEO Megan Driscoll says. "As we see it, yet another monumental shift in communication will happen when the world starts to reopen, so we need to understand how this last year has changed women, and how we can make a positive difference in their lives moving forward."

EvolveMKD partnered with mental health expert, Dr. La Keita Carter, and social media expert, Natalie Zfat, to help break down the data to more deeply understand the connection between communication and mental health, and how it impacts every aspect of women's lives.

"Over the next year and beyond, our communication methods will continue to change and adapt to new lifestyle needs," Driscoll says. "Armed with the insights from this survey, we have an opportunity to spread awareness around the importance of communication on mental health. Being communications industry leaders, we take that responsibility seriously, and are committed to making it a core part of our mission."

As a first step, EvolveMKD worked with Dr. Carter to develop tools to help women further understand their own, and others', communication preferences. These communication preferences, what EvolveMKD is coining "The Five Communication Languages of Women," help women learn more about their communication needs and why understanding those needs is important. Here are five communication styles to help you identify your communication language:

1. The Meet & Greeter
   Wants face-to-face time. Feels really connected when they share physical space with loved ones.
   
2. The Over Sharer
   Will tell you everything you need to know about them, without you asking. Feels connected to others by being vulnerable.
   
3. The Initiator
   Loves to talk, even if it's about superficial topics like the weather. Feeds off of others' verbal energy.
   
4. The Observer
   More of a "listener" and tends not to initiate or dominate the conversation. Instead, they search for deeper connections with people (even strangers) before they initiate conversation.
   
5. The Protector
   Can find communication exhausting and draining and this may be because their job requires them to communicate.

Click here to download the survey and learn more about EvolveMKD.