Emotional processing in vocal and written expression of feelings about traumatic experiences

Abstract

~~The purpose of this study was to compare

The Benefits and Risks of Telling and Listening to Stories of Difficulty Over Time: Experimentally Testing the Expressive Writing Paradigm in the Context of Interpersonal Communication Between Friends

“…Results of these studies overwhelmingly support the notion that discussing stressful experiences is related to increases in health, including improved mental and physical health (Lyubomirsky, Sousa, & Dickerhoof, 2006;Pauley, Morman, & Floyd, 2011), reduced posttraumatic health symptoms (Campbell, 2003), fewer physician visits (e.g., Pennebaker, Colder, & Sharp, 1990), higher grades (Pennebaker et al, 1990), positive effects on blood markers of immune function (Pennebaker, Kiecolt-Glaser, & Glaser, 1988), and less distress, negative affect, and depression over time (Murray & Segal, 1994). Since expressive disclosure has been linked to improved life satisfaction, mental health, and positive and negative affect (Lyubomirsky, et al, 2006;Murray & Segal, 1994;Pauley et al, 2011), we chose to focus on these psychological health indicators in the present.…”

“…Although most studies have focused on emotional sense-making through writing, Pennebaker, Hughes, and O'Heeron (1987), Murray and Segal (1994), and Lyubomirsky et al (2006) all tested the impact of talking into a tape recorder and found similar health benefits as evidenced in writing studies. The Pennebaker et al participants, however, also talked to an anonymous "confessor" behind a curtain.…”

“…Since expressive disclosure has been linked to improved life satisfaction, mental health, and positive and negative affect (Lyubomirsky, et al, 2006;Murray & Segal, 1994;Pauley et al, 2011), we chose to focus on these psychological health indicators in the present.…”

“…Research grounded in the expressive writing paradigm (EWP) typically includes writing about a stressful or traumatic experience over the course of several days. Analyses have documented the mental (e.g., Murray & Segal, 1994) and physical (e.g., Pennebaker, Kiecolt-Glaser, & Glaser, 1988) health benefits of writing over time, as well as the specific elements of writing (e.g., emotion words, insight words; Pennebaker, Mayne, & Francis, 1999) that distinguish participants along psychological and physical well-being outcomes. These positive benefits of writing are theoretically grounded in concepts such as disinhibition, as well as cognitive and social processing (for reviews see Frattaroli, 2006;Niederhoffer & Pennebaker, 2009), suggesting that writing about stress and trauma enables sense-making, catharsis, control over difficult events, and connection with others in ways that positively impact health.…”

The costs and benefits of writing, talking, and thinking about life's triumphs and defeats.

“…Furthermore, those who simply talk about a traumatic experience into a tape recorder (as though they are talking to a friend) are just as likely to benefit as those who write about the experience (Murray & Segal, 1994). Discussing a traumatic event during brief psychotherapeutic sessions has also been found to increase well-being (Donnelly & Murray, 1991).…”