Cited by 1,502Mental Health via WritingPsychotherapy Techniques and ApplicationsAttachment and Relationship Dynamics

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Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis.

Frattaroli, Joanne·2006·Psychological Bulletin

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Abstract

Disclosing information, thoughts, and feelings about personal and meaningful topics (experimental disclosure) is purported to have various health and psychological consequences (e.g., J. W. Pennebaker, 1993). Although the results of 2 small meta-analyses (P. G. Frisina, J. C. Borod, & S. J. Lepore, 2004; J. M. Smyth, 1998) suggest that experimental disclosure has a positive and significant effect, both used a fixed effects approach, limiting generalizability. Also, a plethora of studies on experimental disclosure have been completed that were not included in the previous analyses. One hundred forty-six randomized studies of experimental disclosure were collected and included in the present meta-analysis. Results of random effects analyses indicate that experimental disclosure is effective, with a positive and significant average r-effect size of .075. In addition, a number of moderators were identified.

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Hallford, D. J., Gerring, K. S., Button, M., Campbell, R., & Sutton, K. (2024) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-024-10554-1 · Cited by 3
“Meta-analytic studies indicate that these types of written tasks contribute to small, but significant, reductions in stress, anxiety and depression (Guo, 2023 ), as well as enhancements in positive functioning (Frattaroli, 2006 ).”
Further considerations of theory, technique, and affect in child psychoanalysis: Two prelatency cases
Holinger, P. C. (2015) · The International Journal of Psychoanalysis · doi:10.1111/1745-8315.12366 · Cited by 3
Relationship Satisfaction and Health Outcomes in the Context of Personality
Galione, J. N. (2016) · Open Scholarship Institutional Repository (Washington University in St. Louis) · doi:10.7936/k7qr4vhx · Cited by 5
Positive Journal Writing Across Multicultural Contexts: A Protocol for Practice
Hayes, M., & van Zyl, L. E. (2019) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-20020-6_19 · Cited by 3
Language and the Symptoms of Mental Illness Connection via Abstract Representations of the Self and the World
Kuzucu, Y., Şimşek, Ö. F., & Koşe-Demiray, Ç. (2020) · The Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/00223980.2019.1703098 · Cited by 3
“…research findings consistently showed that writing about problematic experiences even for just a couple of days improved mental and physical health, even though the results of the recent meta-analysis concerning the effect of these interventions indicated modest effect sizes (Frattaroli, 2006).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
How Expressive Writing Benefits Defensive Pessimists’ Performance:
Ishiyama, Y., Suzuki, N., Oikawa, M., & Oikawa, H. (2020) · The Japanese Journal of Educational Psychology · doi:10.5926/jjep.68.1 · Cited by 3
A current paradigm: Written emotional disclosure.
Acar, D., & Di̇ri̇k, G. (2019) · DergiPark (Istanbul University) · Cited by 3
Contrasting narratives: a randomised control study comparing Conflict Analysis and narrative disclosure
Levis, M., & Levis, A. J. (2021) · British Journal of Guidance and Counselling · doi:10.1080/03069885.2021.1970111 · Cited by 3
“Despite the wide utilisation of the narrative disclosure model, metanalyses show a range of e ﬀ ect sizes (Frattaroli, 2006; Meads & Nouwen, 2005).”
Method
Emotional expressive writing to alleviate euthanasia-related stress.
Unsworth, K. L., Rogelberg, S. G., & Bonilla, D. (2010) · PubMed Central · Cited by 3
Effect of a Storyboarding Technique on Selected Measures of Fitness Among University Employees
Anshel, M. H., & Sutarso, T. (2010) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.2010.10599673 · Cited by 3
Exploring the Role of Expectancies in the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Written Self-Disclosure
Patterson, C. L., & Singer, J. A. (2007) · Imagination Cognition and Personality · doi:10.2190/ic.27.2.b · Cited by 3
Negotiating Selves: Exploring Cultures of Disclosure
Hadley, B., & Caines, R. (2009) · M/C Journal · doi:10.5204/mcj.207 · Cited by 3
EFFECTIVENESS OF INTENSIVE SHORT-TERM DYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY IN DECREASING THE SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION AND INCREASING EMOTIONAL DISCLOSURE IN PATIENTS SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION
Mehdi, K., Leila, H. N., Tabibi, Z., & Hamidreza, A. S. (2013) · Cited by 3
An Exploratory Study Utilizing Expressive Writing and a Novel Cognitive Tool as Strategies for Enhanced Moral Perception
Kreitler, C. M., Repasky, G. T., Dansereau, F., & Barth, T. M. (2012) · Cited by 3
A Systematic Review of Controlled Trials Evaluating Interventions Following Non-Marital Relationship Separation
Kazan, D., Calear, A. L., & Batterham, P. J. (2017) · Journal of Relationships Research · doi:10.1017/jrr.2017.7 · Cited by 3
“Although some research has suggested that writing interventions can be an effective method for dealing with stressful life events (Frattaroli, 2006; Hirai, Skidmore, Clum, & Dolma, 2012; Krpan et al., 2013), a study Journal of Relationships Research 7”
Background
Writing for Health: Rationale and Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial of Internet-Based Benefit-Finding Writing for Adults With Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes
Crawford, J., Wilhelm, K. A., Robins, L., & Proudfoot, J. G. (2017) · JMIR Research Protocols · doi:10.2196/resprot.7151 · Cited by 3
“EW studies have typically had modest effect sizes, with meta-analyses reporting small effects of EW for distress ( r =.102) [33], and for physical health in medically ill populations (Cohen d =.21) [45].”
Influential
ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SOCIAL ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND TRAUMA DISCLOSURE
Kazlauskas, E., Želvienė, P., Eimontas, J., & Gegieckaitė, G. (2017) · Sveikatos mokslai · doi:10.5200/sm-hs.2017.107 · Cited by 4
“Several metaanalysis of trauma disclosure revealed significant positive effects on physical and psychological health outcomes (1,2).”
Background
Comment: The Emotional Basis of Toxic Affect
Fischer, A. H. (2018) · Emotion Review · doi:10.1177/1754073917719327 · Cited by 3
“More generally, the regulation strategy of emotional disclosure has also shown to be positively related to cardiovascular health (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Effects of a Sexual Health Interview among Arab American Women: An Experimental Disclosure Study
Holmes, H. J., Yamin, J. B., Krohner, S., Rapport, L. J., Grekin, E. R., Schubiner, H. H., & Lumley, M. A. (2020) · Archives of Sexual Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10508-020-01678-y · Cited by 3
Effects of Expressing Writing on organizational variables in Palliative Care health Professionals: an explorative study.
Cosentino, C., Corte, C., Fioresi, E., Ojeda, F. M., Pastore, S., Severgnini, F., Spacci, A., & Artioli, G. (2019) · Acta bio-medica dell'Ateneo parmense/Acta biomedica · doi:10.23750/abm.v90i11-s.8946 · Cited by 3
“Furthermore, EW protocols have proven effective on mild forms of depression (3), on anxiety (4), on eating disorders (5), on different types of post-traumatic stress (6), on stress and satisfaction in the workplace (7).”
Background
A meaning-centred, whole-school approach for responsible decision-making: The Logotherapeutic Framework
Hanna, S. A., & Minton, S. J. (2021) · Irish Educational Studies · doi:10.1080/03323315.2021.1899017 · Cited by 5
“While Expressive Writing should not be considered a panacea (Frattaroli 2006; Andersson and Conley 2008), the fact that it is signi ﬁ cantly less resource-intensive than current one-to-one guidance means that it could be employed as part of a developmental and preventive guidance programme in…”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Written Emotional Disclosure Paradigm: Effects on Posttraumatic Stress Symtoms and Posttraumatic Growth among Spouses of Cancer Patients
Acar, D., & Di̇ri̇k, G. (2018) · Journal of Clinical Psychiatry · doi:10.5505/kpd.2018.48343 · Cited by 3
“Ayrýca bazý araþtýrmalar açýða vurmalarýn evde gerçekleþtirilmesinin saðlýðý daha fazla geliþtirebileceðine dikkat çekmektedir (26).”
Complementary and Alternative Therapies
Nezu, C. M., Lee, M., & Ricelli, S. E. (2012) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118133880.hop209025 · Cited by 3
Dance/dance movement therapy and general wellbeing, depression, and anxiety : a meta-analysis
Hj, P. (2012) · UTAS Research Repository · doi:10.25959/23244584 · Cited by 3
Sharing personal information in relationships
Magsamen‐Conrad, K. (2012) · Rutgers University Community Repository (Rutgers University) · doi:10.7282/t3dn440j · Cited by 3
The psychological aftermath of bereavement : Risk factors, mediating processes, and intervention
der Houwen, H. K. V. (2004) · Utrecht University Repository (Utrecht University) · Cited by 3
Self-Healing Personalities
Friedman, H. S., Duggan, K. A., & Heilmayr, D. (2015) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-397045-9.00221-4 · Cited by 3
Increasing self-compassion and positive body esteem: An expressive writing intervention
Murn, L. T. (2013) · SHAREOK (University of Oklahoma; Oklahoma State University; Central Oklahoma University) · Cited by 3

Authors: Frattaroli, J.
Affiliations: University of California, Riverside (US)
Corresponding author: Frattaroli, Joanne
Venue: Psychological Bulletin
Publisher: American Psychological Association (APA)
Published: 2006
Volume: 132
Issue: 6
Pages: 823-865
ISSN: 0033-2909 (ISSN-L)
1939-1455
DOI: 10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823
OpenAlex: W2031791082
Cited by: 1,502
References: 157
Citations by year: 2026: 61 · 2025: 40 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 70 · 2022: 90 · 2021: 74 · 2020: 142 · 2019: 82 · 2018: 123 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 124 · 2015: 88 · 2014: 85 · 2013: 73 · 2012: 91
FWCI: 52.64
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Locations: Psychological Bulletin (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: University of California
Topics: Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychotherapy Techniques and Applications
Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
Keywords: expressive writing, random effects models, effect size
MeSH terms: Adaptation, Psychological, Adult, Attitude to Health, Female, Health Status, Humans, Life Change Events, Male, Mental Health, Self Disclosure, Time Factors, Writing, Expressed Emotion, Disclosure

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Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis.

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