Skip to main content
Top
Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research 6/2023

06-08-2023 | Original Article

Find a Resting Place for Your Emotions and Make it Yours: A Meta-Analysis of Expressive Writing Interventions Among Asian Populations

Auteur: Lin Guo

Gepubliceerd in: Cognitive Therapy and Research | Uitgave 6/2023

Log in om toegang te krijgen
share
DELEN

Deel dit onderdeel of sectie (kopieer de link)

  • Optie A:
    Klik op de rechtermuisknop op de link en selecteer de optie “linkadres kopiëren”
  • Optie B:
    Deel de link per e-mail

Abstract

Introduction

Expressive writing is a promising tool to promote physical and emotional health. This meta-analysis took the initiative to examine the effects of expressive writing on quality of life relevant outcomes among Asian populations.

Method

To determine the long-term effects, the literature search identified 11 experimental studies with randomized controlled trials and follow-up assessments. The final analysis included 38 reported effect sizes and a total of 1188 participants.

Results

The results suggested that for the current sample, there were no significant group differences between expressive writing and control conditions at the first follow-up assessment, g = 0.05 (p = 0.53), nor at the second follow-up assessment, g = 0.04 (p = 0.73). Change score analyses showed non-significant changes from baseline to first follow-up, g = 0.01 (p = 0.78) and from baseline to second follow-up, g = 0.04 (p = 0.55). In addition, moderator analyses did not detect substantial moderators pertaining to participant characteristics (physical health, immigration status) or intervention features (topic focus, prompt structure, time lapse of events).

Discussion

Taken together, these findings indicate that to optimize treatment outcomes for Asian populations, expressive writing interventions need to consider salient concerns in cultural communities and the sociocultural impact on individual tendencies towards emotional processing. Implications for the design of writing interventions are discussed.
Literatuur
go back to reference *Chu, Q., Wu, I. H. C., & Lu, Q. (2020a). Expressive writing intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder among Chinese American breast cancer survivors: The moderating role of social constraints. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care & Rehabilitation, 29(4), 891–899. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11136-019-02385-5CrossRef *Chu, Q., Wu, I. H. C., & Lu, Q. (2020a). Expressive writing intervention for posttraumatic stress disorder among Chinese American breast cancer survivors: The moderating role of social constraints. Quality of Life Research: An International Journal of Quality of Life Aspects of Treatment, Care & Rehabilitation, 29(4), 891–899. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s11136-019-02385-5CrossRef
go back to reference Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Earlbaum. Cohen, J. (1988). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Earlbaum.
go back to reference Dewey, J. (1933). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process (Rev). D.C Heath and Company. Dewey, J. (1933). How we think: A restatement of the relation of reflective thinking to the educative process (Rev). D.C Heath and Company.
go back to reference Facchin, F., Margola, D., Molgora, S., & Revenson, T. A. (2014). Effects of benefit-focused versus standard expressive writing on adolescents’ self-concept during the high school transition. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(1), 131–144. https://doi.org/10.1111/jora.12040CrossRef Facchin, F., Margola, D., Molgora, S., & Revenson, T. A. (2014). Effects of benefit-focused versus standard expressive writing on adolescents’ self-concept during the high school transition. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 24(1), 131–144. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1111/​jora.​12040CrossRef
go back to reference Fiske, A. P., Kitayama, S., Markus, H. R., & Nisbett, R. E. (1998). The cultural matrix of social psychology. In D. T. Gilbert, S. T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (4th ed., pp. 915–981). McGraw-Hill. Fiske, A. P., Kitayama, S., Markus, H. R., & Nisbett, R. E. (1998). The cultural matrix of social psychology. In D. T. Gilbert, S. T. Fiske, & G. Lindzey (Eds.), The handbook of social psychology (4th ed., pp. 915–981). McGraw-Hill.
go back to reference Gerger, H., Werner, C. P., Gaab, J., & Cuijpers, P. (2022). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of expressive writing treatments compared with psychotherapy, other writing treatments and waiting list control for adult trauma survivors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 52(15), 3484–3496.CrossRef Gerger, H., Werner, C. P., Gaab, J., & Cuijpers, P. (2022). Comparative efficacy and acceptability of expressive writing treatments compared with psychotherapy, other writing treatments and waiting list control for adult trauma survivors: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. Psychological Medicine, 52(15), 3484–3496.CrossRef
go back to reference Greben, M., Schweitzer, R. D., & Bargenquast, R. (2014). Mechanisms of change in psychotherapy for people diagnosed with schizophrenia: The role of narrative reflexivity in promoting recovery. The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, 20(1), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1017/jrc.2014.4CrossRef Greben, M., Schweitzer, R. D., & Bargenquast, R. (2014). Mechanisms of change in psychotherapy for people diagnosed with schizophrenia: The role of narrative reflexivity in promoting recovery. The Australian Journal of Rehabilitation Counselling, 20(1), 1–14. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1017/​jrc.​2014.​4CrossRef
go back to reference Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 271–299.CrossRef Gross, J. J. (1998). The emerging field of emotion regulation: An integrative review. Review of General Psychology, 2(3), 271–299.CrossRef
go back to reference Habermas, T. (2018). Emotion and narrative: Perspectives in autobiographical storytelling. Cambridge University Press.CrossRef Habermas, T. (2018). Emotion and narrative: Perspectives in autobiographical storytelling. Cambridge University Press.CrossRef
go back to reference Heine, S. J. (2003). An exploration of cultural variation in self-enhancing and self-improving motivations. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 118–145). University of Nebraska Press. Heine, S. J. (2003). An exploration of cultural variation in self-enhancing and self-improving motivations. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 118–145). University of Nebraska Press.
go back to reference Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered assumptions: Towards a new psychology of trauma. Free Press. Janoff-Bulman, R. (1992). Shattered assumptions: Towards a new psychology of trauma. Free Press.
go back to reference Ji, L., Tsai, W., Sun, X., Lu, Q., Wang, H., Wang, L., & Lu, G. (2019). The detrimental effects of ambivalence over emotional expression on well-being among mainland Chinese breast cancer patients: Mediating role of perceived social support. Psycho-Oncology, 28(5), 1142–1148. https://doi.org/10.1002/pon.5069CrossRefPubMed Ji, L., Tsai, W., Sun, X., Lu, Q., Wang, H., Wang, L., & Lu, G. (2019). The detrimental effects of ambivalence over emotional expression on well-being among mainland Chinese breast cancer patients: Mediating role of perceived social support. Psycho-Oncology, 28(5), 1142–1148. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​pon.​5069CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Oxford University Press. Lazarus, R. S. (1991). Emotion and adaptation. Oxford University Press.
go back to reference Lepore, S. J., Greenberg, M. A., Bruno, M., & Smyth, J. M. (2002). Expressive writing and health: Self-regulation of emotion-related experience, physiology, and behavior. In S. J. Lepore & J. M. Smyth (Eds.), The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being (pp. 99–117). American Psychological Association.CrossRef Lepore, S. J., Greenberg, M. A., Bruno, M., & Smyth, J. M. (2002). Expressive writing and health: Self-regulation of emotion-related experience, physiology, and behavior. In S. J. Lepore & J. M. Smyth (Eds.), The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being (pp. 99–117). American Psychological Association.CrossRef
go back to reference Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2003). Models of agency: Sociocultural diversity in the construction of action. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 18–74). University of Nebraska Press. Markus, H. R., & Kitayama, S. (2003). Models of agency: Sociocultural diversity in the construction of action. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 18–74). University of Nebraska Press.
go back to reference May, R. (1953). Man’s search for himself. W.W. Norton & Company. May, R. (1953). Man’s search for himself. W.W. Norton & Company.
go back to reference Miller, J. G. (2003). Culture and agency: Implications for psychological theories of motivation and social development. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 76–116). University of Nebraska Press. Miller, J. G. (2003). Culture and agency: Implications for psychological theories of motivation and social development. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 76–116). University of Nebraska Press.
go back to reference Park, C. L., & Blumberg, C. J. (2002). Disclosing trauma through writing: Testing the meaning-making hypothesis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26(5), 597–616.CrossRef Park, C. L., & Blumberg, C. J. (2002). Disclosing trauma through writing: Testing the meaning-making hypothesis. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 26(5), 597–616.CrossRef
go back to reference Pennebaker, J. W., & Beall, S. K. (1986). Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(3), 274.CrossRefPubMed Pennebaker, J. W., & Beall, S. K. (1986). Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 95(3), 274.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243–1254.CrossRefPubMed Pennebaker, J. W., & Seagal, J. D. (1999). Forming a story: The health benefits of narrative. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 55(10), 1243–1254.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference R Core Team. (2021). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing. R Core Team. (2021). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
go back to reference Schacter, D. L. (1996). Searching for memory: The brain, the mind, and the past. Basic books. Schacter, D. L. (1996). Searching for memory: The brain, the mind, and the past. Basic books.
go back to reference *Tavakoli, S., Lumley, M. A., Hijazi, A. M., Slavin-Spenny, O. M., & Parris, G. P. (2010). Effects of assertiveness training and expressive writing on acculturative stress in international students: A randomized trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(4), 590–596. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0016634CrossRef *Tavakoli, S., Lumley, M. A., Hijazi, A. M., Slavin-Spenny, O. M., & Parris, G. P. (2010). Effects of assertiveness training and expressive writing on acculturative stress in international students: A randomized trial. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 56(4), 590–596. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1037/​a0016634CrossRef
go back to reference *Wang, R., Li, L., Xu, J., Ding, Z. T., Qiao, J., Redding, S. R., Xianyu, Y. Y., & Ouyang, Y. Q. (2022). Effects of structured expressive writing on quality of life and perceived self-care self-efficacy of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in central china: A randomized controlled trial. Healthcare (basel), 10(9), 1762. https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare10091762CrossRefPubMed *Wang, R., Li, L., Xu, J., Ding, Z. T., Qiao, J., Redding, S. R., Xianyu, Y. Y., & Ouyang, Y. Q. (2022). Effects of structured expressive writing on quality of life and perceived self-care self-efficacy of breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy in central china: A randomized controlled trial. Healthcare (basel), 10(9), 1762. https://​doi.​org/​10.​3390/​healthcare100917​62CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Wells, A. (2011). Metacognitive therapy for anxiety and depression. Guilford press. Wells, A. (2011). Metacognitive therapy for anxiety and depression. Guilford press.
go back to reference White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends (1st ed.). Norton. White, M., & Epston, D. (1990). Narrative means to therapeutic ends (1st ed.). Norton.
go back to reference Yang, K. S. (2003). Beyond Maslow’s culture-bound linear theory: A preliminary statement of the double-y model of basic human needs. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 192–272). University of Nebraska Press. Yang, K. S. (2003). Beyond Maslow’s culture-bound linear theory: A preliminary statement of the double-y model of basic human needs. In V. Murphy-Berman & J. J. Berman (Eds.), Cross-cultural differences in perspectives on the self (pp. 192–272). University of Nebraska Press.
go back to reference Zakowski, S. G., Herzer, M., Barrett, S. D., Milligan, J. G., & Beckman, N. (2011). Who benefits from emotional expression? An examination of personality differences among gynaecological cancer patients participating in a randomized controlled emotional disclosure intervention trial: Personality traits and emotional disclosure. The British Journal of Psychology, 102(3), 355–372. https://doi.org/10.1348/000712610X524949CrossRef Zakowski, S. G., Herzer, M., Barrett, S. D., Milligan, J. G., & Beckman, N. (2011). Who benefits from emotional expression? An examination of personality differences among gynaecological cancer patients participating in a randomized controlled emotional disclosure intervention trial: Personality traits and emotional disclosure. The British Journal of Psychology, 102(3), 355–372. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1348/​000712610X524949​CrossRef
Metagegevens
Titel
Find a Resting Place for Your Emotions and Make it Yours: A Meta-Analysis of Expressive Writing Interventions Among Asian Populations
Auteur
Lin Guo
Publicatiedatum
06-08-2023
Uitgeverij
Springer US
Gepubliceerd in
Cognitive Therapy and Research / Uitgave 6/2023
Print ISSN: 0147-5916
Elektronisch ISSN: 1573-2819
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10608-023-10417-1

Andere artikelen Uitgave 6/2023

Cognitive Therapy and Research 6/2023 Naar de uitgave