Talking facilitates cognitive–emotional processes of adaptation to an acute stressor.

Abstract

The authors examined the influence of talking and the social context of talking on cognitive-emotional processes of adjustment to stressors. Two hundred fifty-six undergraduates viewed a stressful stimulus and were then assigned to a no-talk control condition or 1 of 3 talk conditions: talk alone, talk to a validating confederate, or talk to an invalidating confederate. Two days later, they were reexposed to the stressor. Compared with individuals in the no-talk condition, those in the talk alone and validate conditions had a lower level of intrusive thoughts in the 2-day interim, and they had lower perceived stress when reexposed to the stressor. The effects of talking and validation on perceived stress appeared to be mediated by lowered intrusions. The benefits of talking were diluted when disclosures were invalidated. These findings suggest that talking about acute stressors can facilitate adjustment to stressors through cognitive resolution.A timely utterance gave that thought relief, and I again am strong ---William Wordsworth, "Ode: Intimations of Immortality from Recollections of Early Childhood" Poets, laypersons, and psychologists alike believe that there are benefits of talking about negative emotional experiences. There is a strong tendency for people to talk about aversive events (Rime, 1995), and disclosure of stressful experiences is the cornerstone of many psychotherapeutic interventions (Stiles, 1995). Empirical evidence suggests that "opening up" and expressing stress-related thoughts and feelings is associated with improved physical and mental health (

Childhood exposure to family violence and adult trauma symptoms: The importance of social support from a spouse.

“…Although the SCP model highlights the benefits of positive social support provided in direct response to trauma disclosure (Lepore et al, 2000), the current findings suggest that even day-to-day provisions of spousal support may play a key role in husbands' posttraumatic recovery. Although it is encouraging that positive support from a spouse may help alleviate abuse-related distress, negative support may exacerbate trauma symptoms experienced by male survivors.…”

“…According to the social-cognitive processing (SCP) model of adjustment to trauma (Lepore, 2001), positive social support received from others in response to trauma disclosure buffers against distress by enhancing cognitive processing. Supportive behaviors facilitate trauma-related discussions, which allow victims to construct a more adaptive narrative of the trauma and habituate to the memories of the event (Lepore, Ragan, & Jones, 2000). On the other hand, others may respond to emotional disclosure, with statements or acts that are overtly (e.g., criticizing or blaming a spouse for the problem) or covertly invalidating (e.g., appearing bored or disinterested, redirecting the conversation to discuss oneself).…”

Is there more to complicated grief than depression and posttraumatic stress disorder? A test of incremental validity.

“…The pairing of this response with CG symptoms, which indicate acute separation distress and preoccupation with the loss, suggests that the absence of cardiovascular responsivity may be best understood as a consequence of emotional withdrawal (Bonanno et al, 1995;Fowles, 1980). Another possible explanation for this pattern is that more acute grief at 4 months of bereavement may be associated with a stronger need for self-disclosure and a corresponding reduction in autonomic activity and distress at the opportunity to do so (Lepore, Ragan, & Jones, 2000). By contrast, PTSD symptoms covary with heart rate arguably because heart rate change reflects negative affect and defensive behavior triggered by the requirement to talk about the loss (Elsesser, Sartory, & Tackenberg, 2004).…”

Posttraumatic Growth and Recovery from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

“…Intrusions about the trauma have been reported to negatively relate to PTSD (e.g., Patterson et al, 1990;Shalev, 1992;Snape, 1997) and positively to PTG and well-being (e.g., Park & Fenster, 2004;Snape, 1997). Attempts to find the causes or meaning of the trauma also show a positive relation to PTG (e.g., Calhoun et al, 2000;Lepore et al, 2000). Nevertheless, the research on how cognitive processing affects trauma recovery has yielded inconsistent findings.…”