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Journaling about stressful events: Effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression
Journal article

Journaling about stressful events: Effects of cognitive processing and emotional expression

Philip Ullrich and Susan Lutgendorf
Annals of behavioral medicine, Vol.24(3), pp.244-250
08/2002
DOI: 10.1207/S15324796ABM2403_10
PMID: 12173682

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Abstract

The effects of two journaling interventions, one focusing on emotional expression and the other on both cognitive processing and emotional expression, were compared during 1 month of journaling about a stressful or traumatic event. One hundred twenty-two students were randomly assigned to one of three writing conditions: (a) focusing on emotions related to a trauma or stressor, (b) focusing on cognitions and emotions related to a trauma or stressor, or (c) writing factually about media events. Writers focusing on cognitions and emotions developed greater awareness of the positive benefits of the stressful event than the other two groups. This effect was apparently mediated by greater cognitive processing during writing. Writers focusing on emotions alone reported more severe illness symptoms during the study than those in other conditions. This effect appeared to be mediated by a greater focus on negative emotional expression during writing.
Medicine & Public Health Developmental Psychology Health Psychology Clinical Psychology Public Health/Gesundheitswesen Neuropsychology Cognitive Psychology

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