Believing words harm predicts worse mental health

People who endorse the idea that speech can cause long‑term psychological damage tend to report poorer mental‑health outcomes. This suggests that meta‑beliefs about vulnerability to words (not only the words themselves) may shape resilience and help explain controversies over trigger warnings and speech policy. — If belief about speech‑harm correlates with mental health, debates about trigger warnings, content moderation, and clinical guidance should address those beliefs, not only the content.