ArticleBehavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland)2026
Introducing the Metaphorical Anchor Model: A Mixed-Methods Study of Cognitive Metaphor Use in Palliative Care.
Article in Behavioral sciences (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
This study introduces and provides an initial validation of the Metaphorical Anchor Model, a framework in which metaphors function as cognitive tools that transform affective overload into structured professional meaning in the context of death and end-of-life care. A mixed-methods design was used to test whether professional background moderates the anchoring process. Study 1 involved a qualitative analysis of 61 metaphorical expressions produced by 14 multidisciplinary professionals, using thematic analysis within a discourse-based interpretative framework grounded in cognitive linguistics. Study 2 provided quantitative validation through Fisher's Exact Test to examine whether professional training influences the selection of metaphor types. Qualitative findings identified six cognitive domains grouped into two macro-clusters: Symbolic & Relational Anchors (symbolic, affective, relational) and Functional & Cognitive Analogies (embodied, spatial, cognitive). Quantitative results supported the model, showing professional role as a significant moderator (
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