Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables

Smyth, Joshua M.

doi:10.1037/0022-006x.66.1.174

Cited by 1,294Mental Health via WritingPsychological Well-being and Life SatisfactionArt Therapy and Mental Health

Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables

Smyth, Joshua M.·1998·Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology

DOI 10.1037/0022-006x.66.1.174

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Abstract

A research synthesis was conducted to examine the relationship between a written emotional expression task and subsequent health. This writing task was found to lead to significantly improved health outcomes in healthy participants. Health was enhanced in 4 outcome types--reported physical health, psychological well-being, physiological functioning, and general functioning--but health behaviors were not influenced. Writing also increased immediate (pre- to postwriting) distress, which was unrelated to health outcomes. The relation between written emotional expression and health was moderated by a number of variables, including the use of college students as participants, gender, duration of the manipulation, publication status of the study, and specific writing content instructions.

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Expressive writing generally produces short-term distress in experimental participants following completion of the treatment and salutary health effects occurring only over time.
“Expressive writing generally produces short-term distress in experimental participants following completion of the treatment and salutary health effects occurring only over time (Smyth, 1998).”
From Interventions that target improvements in mental health for parents of children with autism spectrum disorders: A narrative review (2017) · cites this paper as Smyth, 1998

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Authors: Smyth, J. M.
Affiliations: State University of New York (US)
Corresponding author: Smyth, Joshua M.
ORCID: Smyth, Joshua M.
Venue: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 1998
Volume: 66
Issue: 1
Pages: 174-184
ISSN: 0022-006X (ISSN-L)
1939-2117
DOI: 10.1037/0022-006x.66.1.174
OpenAlex: W2064411548
Cited by: 1,294
References: 0
Citations by year: 2026: 44 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 31 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 43 · 2020: 38 · 2019: 41 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 41 · 2016: 51 · 2015: 67 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 51 · 2012: 71
FWCI: 42.29
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Psychological Well-being and Life Satisfaction
Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Conservation › Art Therapy and Mental Health
Keywords: expressive writing, health outcomes, physical health, psychological well-being, physiological function, general functioning, health behavior, distress, moderators, gender differences, publication status, university students
MeSH terms: Affect, Health Status, Humans, Life Change Events, Mental Health, Stress, Psychological, Writing

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Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables

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