Journal article
Spiritually Oriented Expressive Writing and Promoting Positive Outcomes After a Natural Disaster
The Counseling psychologist, Vol.49(6), pp.847-881
08/01/2021
DOI: 10.1177/00110000211010499
Abstract
Natural disasters can disrupt and challenge survivors' core belief systems, leading to negative health consequences. People often rely on religion/spirituality to help them cope and make meaning, but to date very few studies have specifically focused on exploring spiritually oriented expressive writing interventions with natural disaster survivors. Therefore, the current longitudinal, mixed-methods study utilized an experimental design with random assignment of 132 survivors of the 2016 Louisiana flooding. Quantitative measures were completed before and after the writing intervention, then at 1-month and 6-month follow-up time points. Results indicated that the spiritually oriented intervention was effective in promoting meaning in life but not life satisfaction. Survivors with lower preintervention positive attitudes toward God evidenced the strongest growth over time regarding meaning in life. Qualitative analyses, using a directed content analysis approach, revealed six themes in the experimental group's written responses that expanded previous research. Finally, we discuss implications for counseling and future research.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Spiritually Oriented Expressive Writing and Promoting Positive Outcomes After a Natural Disaster
- Creators
- David K. Mosher - Univ North Texas, Denton, TX 76203 USAJoshua N. Hook - University of North TexasLaura E. Captari - University of North TexasAdam S. Hodge - University of North TexasNic Bellegarde - University of North TexasDon E. Davis - Georgia State UniversityStacey E. McElroy-Heltzel - Georgia State UniversityElise J. Choe - Georgia State UniversityDaryl R. Van Tongeren - Hope CollegeEdward B. Davis - Wheaton Coll, Psychol, Wheaton, IL 60187 USAJamie D. Aten - Wheaton College - Illinois
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- The Counseling psychologist, Vol.49(6), pp.847-881
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- DOI
- 10.1177/00110000211010499
- ISSN
- 0011-0000
- eISSN
- 1552-3861
- Number of pages
- 35
- Grant note
- 44040 / John Templeton Foundation
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 08/01/2021
- Academic Unit
- Psychological and Quantitative Foundations
- Record Identifier
- 9984371265202771
Metrics
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