Journal writing as a social support strategy for parents of premature infants: a pilot study

Distress, Coping, and Blogging: Comparing New Myspace Users by Their Intention to Blog

“…It may be that planning is not utilized as a tool until intending bloggers actually begin keeping blog entries, after which blogs offer benefits in insight in ways similar to journal writing. 3,4 There were also no statistical differences between intending bloggers and non-bloggers on Positive Reframing, so overall, the second prediction, that intention to blog DISTRESS, COPING, AND BLOGGING 83 would be associated with particular coping styles previously linked with journaling, was only partially supported. Some coping attributes predicted to differentiate bloggers from non-bloggers may only become manifest in studies that compare those who actually engage in blogging with those who do not, as all "intenders" may not fulfill their intentions.…”

“…They were also more likely than non-bloggers to vent . This finding is of interest because venting has been established as a useful component of journal writing [4][5][6][7] and is theorized to be a major benefit of blogging. [11][12][13] Venting and self-blame together suggest a confessional type of blogging in which negative self-thoughts are aired.…”

“…Several studies on journal writing as a therapeutic device show it can lead to significant improvements in an author's physical health, psychological well-being, psychological functioning, and overall functioning. 2 Journals can be used as a coping tool, allowing the author to utilize planning and organization skills, 3,4 to reflect on life and gain insight, 5 and to reduce psychological distress through venting and processing painful emotions. [4][5][6][7][8][9] Similarly, blogs have been described as a medium for planning and organizing ideas 1,10 and processing emotionally charged situations 11,12 while engaging in cathartic venting and emotional expression.…”

Evaluation of the effect of narrative writing on the stress sources of the parents of preterm neonates admitted to the NICU

“…Furthermore, all the many devices and apparatuses, noise, heat, crowd, numerous visiting doctors and nurses, and the procedures, and hesitations whether they are allowed to touch and caress the neonate are other sources of stress [4,7,8]. The mothers of preterm babies with health problems feel more frustrated than the mothers of healthy term babies [4,9]. On the other hand, because the mothers are not allowed to hug, feed, and touch their babies and show their emotions and are not well supported and informed by the NICU staff in the early days of NICU admission, they feel stressed, frightened, and isolated.…”

“…Narrative writing is one of the strategies than can reduce stress. Some studies have shown that narrative writing can be effective in recovery from stressful conditions and reducing stress, improving the health status, enhancing coping skills, increasing satisfaction, problem solving, improving interaction, and critical thinking [1,4,9,10]. Moreover, narrative writing forms an experimental basis for nursing care which helps to vent the feelings of the patient and create a better relationship between the patient and the nurse [4,9,[11][12][13][14][15].…”