--- title: "Psych News Alert: Being Bilingual Brings Mental Health Benefits" description: Individuals who are bilingual appear to have superior sound-processing skills, Northwestern University researchers reported today in the Pro... image: https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stock-photo-a-multilingual-welcome-sign-written-on-a-chalk-board-68051743-Jun-24-2025-04-46-35-7895-PM.jpg --- 4/30/12 12:00 AM # Being Bilingual Brings Mental Health Benefits ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [ Psychiatric News Alert ](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) Share: [facebook-f icon ](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/being-bilingual-brings-mental-health.html) [linkedin-in icon ](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/being-bilingual-brings-mental-health.html) [Twitter icon ](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/being-bilingual-brings-mental-health.html) [pinterest-p icon ](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/being-bilingual-brings-mental-health.html) [envelope icon ](mailto:?body=https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/04/being-bilingual-brings-mental-health.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stock-photo-a-multilingual-welcome-sign-written-on-a-chalk-board-68051743-Jun-24-2025-04-46-37-6200-PM.jpg?width=200&height=130&name=stock-photo-a-multilingual-welcome-sign-written-on-a-chalk-board-68051743-Jun-24-2025-04-46-37-6200-PM.jpg)](https://alert.psychnews.org/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/stock-photo-a-multilingual-welcome-sign-written-on-a-chalk-board-68051743-Jun-24-2025-04-46-36-7142-PM.jpg) Individuals who are bilingual appear to have superior sound-processing skills, Northwestern University researchers reported today in the *Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. * This finding suggests that bilingual individuals might possess an enhanced ability to pay attention, the researchers believe. Being able to speak two languages likewise seems to reduce, in children, negative internalizing states such as anxiety, loneliness, and poor self-esteem, and negative externalizing behaviors such as arguing, fighting, or acting impulsively, other researchers have found. The reason, they hypothesized, may be because bilingual youngsters understand two cultures, and this understanding in turn helps them appreciate diversity and get along with their peers and teachers. More information about this study of bilingual children can be found in [*Psychiatric News*](http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=113560) . (Image: StockCube/Shutterstock.com) [anxiety](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/anxiety), [attention](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/attention), [bilingual](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/bilingual), [self-esteem](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/self-esteem) ## Related posts [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Brain%20Waves%20for%20TMS%20blog_65181187-Jun-24-2025-05-35-11-9161-PM.jpg?height=200&name=Brain%20Waves%20for%20TMS%20blog_65181187-Jun-24-2025-05-35-11-9161-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/08/how-bright-future-for-rtms-in.html) [depression](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/depression), [Transcranial magnetic stimulation](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/transcranial-magnetic-stimulation) ## [How Bright a Future for rTMS in Depression Treatment?](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/08/how-bright-future-for-rtms-in.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 8/7/12 12:00 AM Proponents of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) see a bright future for the... [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/08/how-bright-future-for-rtms-in.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/sleeping%20baby_38139853-Jun-24-2025-06-23-02-1649-PM.jpg?height=200&name=sleeping%20baby_38139853-Jun-24-2025-06-23-02-1649-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/childrens-sleep-problems-linked-to.html) ## [Childrens' Sleep Problems Linked to Behavioral, Emotional Problems](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/childrens-sleep-problems-linked-to.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 3/6/12 12:00 AM [ Read more ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/03/childrens-sleep-problems-linked-to.html) [![](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/shutterstock_89347900-Jun-24-2025-05-08-55-5989-PM.jpg?height=200&name=shutterstock_89347900-Jun-24-2025-05-08-55-5989-PM.jpg) ](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/12/california-legislator-urges-biden-to.html) [Newtown](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/newtown), [school shooting](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/school-shooting), [California Mental Health Services Act](https://alert.psychnews.org/tag/california-mental-health-services-act) ## [California Legislator Urges Biden to Consider State's Example in Funding Mental Health Services](https://alert.psychnews.org/2012/12/california-legislator-urges-biden-to.html) ![Picture of Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Psych%20News%20Email%20Banners/PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png?width=50&name=PN-Blue-Box_rgb.png) [Psychiatric News Alert](https://alert.psychnews.org/author/psychiatric-news-alert) 12/21/12 12:00 AM In response to the mass shooting last week at a Newtown, Conn., elementary school, California State... 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