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

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 156 of the 157 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis.

Frattaroli, Joanne·2006·Psychological Bulletin

Open this paper in CoChat — free account

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.

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1037/0033-2909.132.6.823

Cites

156 of 156 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Recomputing p-values needs the paper’s full text.

Claims the paper makes

This paper’s full text isn’t openly available, so its claims and self-check weren’t run. The registry and citation checks still apply.

Claims other papers make about this one

Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences
Cohen, J. (1990) · Computers Environment and Urban Systems · doi:10.1016/0198-9715(90)90050-4 · Cited by 65,417
Statistical Power Analysis for the Behavioral Sciences (2nd ed.).
Lachenbruch, P. A., & Cohen, J. (1989) · Journal of the American Statistical Association · doi:10.2307/2290095 · Cited by 37,421
A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance
Morvan, C., & O’Connor, A. (2017) · Macat Library eBooks · doi:10.4324/9781912282432 · Cited by 18,284
Meta-Analytic Procedures for Social Research.
Metcalfe, A., & Rosenthal, R. (1994) · Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series D (The Statistician) · doi:10.2307/2348600 · Cited by 4,249
Meta-analysis in social research
(1982) · Evaluation and Program Planning · doi:10.1016/0149-7189(82)90011-8 · Cited by 3,896
The Handbook of Research Synthesis.
Howel, D., Cooper, H., & Hedges, L. V. (1995) · Biometrics · doi:10.2307/2533295 · Cited by 3,657
Untitled work
(1992) · Cited by 3,325
Why People Use Health Services
Rosenstock, I. M. (2005) · Milbank Quarterly · doi:10.1111/j.1468-0009.2005.00425.x · Cited by 2,329
Meta-analysis of psychotherapy outcome studies.
Smith, M. L., & Glass, G. V. (1977) · American Psychologist · doi:10.1037/0003-066x.32.9.752 · Cited by 2,154
Confronting a traumatic event: Toward an understanding of inhibition and disease.
Pennebaker, J. W., & Beall, S. K. (1986) · Journal of Abnormal Psychology · doi:10.1037/0021-843x.95.3.274 · Cited by 2,074

Show all 157 references

Sorted by citations

Items 601–700 of 1,001

Self-Disclosure and Perceived Responsiveness Among Youth With Asthma: Links to Affect and Anti-Inflammatory Gene Expression
Imami, L., Stanton, S. C. E., Zilioli, S., Tobin, E. T., Farrell, A. K., Luca, F., & Slatcher, R. B. (2018) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167218808497 · Cited by 15
“…are associated with the same health benefits that characterize those who enjoy satisfying social relationships (Holt-Lunstad, Smith, & Layton, 2010; Robles, Slatcher, Trombello, & McGinn, 2014), including better physical health (Frattaroli, 2006) and increased longevity (Selcuk & Ong, 2013).”
Influential
Self-Distancing May Be Harmful: Third-Person Writing Increases Levels of Depressive Symptoms Compared to Traditional Expressive Writing and No Writing
Giovanetti, A. K., Revord, J., Sasso, M. P., & Haeffel, G. J. (2019) · Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology · doi:10.1521/jscp.2019.38.1.50 · Cited by 17
“The benefits of expressive writing are not limited to mental health: it is associated with significant physiological health benefits including improved immune system functioning (Frattaroli, 2006; Frisina, Borod, & Lepore, 2004; Smyth, 1998).”
Background
Development and Validation of a Virtual Reality-Based Training Program for Promoting Subjective Well-Being
Kim, J., Jung, Y. H., Shin, Y., Kim, M.-K., Eom, H., Kim, E. J., Kim, J., & Kim, J. (2020) · Psychiatry Investigation · doi:10.30773/pi.2020.0311 · Cited by 16
Sequential Growth in Cognitive-behavioral Emotion-processing: A Laboratory Study
Guastella, A. J., & Dadds, M. R. (2008) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-008-9199-5 · Cited by 15
The Effect of an Expressive Writing Intervention on Pronouns: The Surprising Case of I
Dunnack, E. S., & Park, C. L. (2009) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325020902925084 · Cited by 15
Les effets de l’écriture expressive sur la santé physique et psychologique des rédacteurs : un bilan, des perspectives de recherches
Piolat, A., & Bannour, R. (2011) · European Review of Applied Psychology · doi:10.1016/j.erap.2010.12.003 · Cited by 15
Well-being in schools: The curious case of the tail wagging the dog?
Craig, C. (2009) · Cited by 15
Ethnicity moderates the outcomes of self-enhancement and self-improvement themes in expressive writing.
Tsai, W., Lau, A. S., Niles, A. N., Coello, J. A., Lieberman, M. D., Ko, A. C., Hur, C., & Stanton, A. L. (2014) · Cultural Diversity & Ethnic Minority Psychology · doi:10.1037/cdp0000012 · Cited by 15
“Keywords: expressive writing, culture, self-enhancement, self-improvement, Asian The positive effects of expressive writing (EW) on psychological and physical health are well documented (see Frattaroli, 2006, for a review).”
Background
Direction to an Internet Support Group Compared With Online Expressive Writing for People With Depression and Anxiety: A Randomized Trial
Dean, J.-A. B., POTTS, H. W. W., & Barker, C. (2016) · JMIR Mental Health · doi:10.2196/mental.5133 · Cited by 14
“The effect size found for expressive writing over time in this study is above the average reported by Frattaroli [15], although it is within the range of some of the studies reviewed there.”
Influential
The impact of reversibility on the decision to disclose personal information
Péer, E., & Acquisti, A. (2016) · Journal of Consumer Marketing · doi:10.1108/jcm-07-2015-1487 · Cited by 17
“…One passage concerned “the pros and cons of hybrid vehicles”, another was about “the benefits of self-disclosure” (excerpted from Frattaroli, 2006) and a third about “the risks of privacy threats” (adapted from a Wikipedia article about internet privacy).”
Background
Supportive music and imagery with sandplay for child witnesses of domestic violence: A pilot study report
Kang, H. (2017) · The Arts in Psychotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.aip.2017.01.009 · Cited by 15
“Self-expression helps people who suffer traumatic events to reduce PTS symptoms (Frattaroli, 2006), experience catharsis (Freud, 1904, 1954), develop selfregulation (Lepore & Greenberg, 2002), and interact with their social world (Pennebaker, 2007).”
Background
Prospective writing: Randomized controlled trial of an intervention for facilitating growth after adversity
Roepke, A. M., Benson, L., Tsukayama, E., & Yaden, D. B. (2017) · The Journal of Positive Psychology · doi:10.1080/17439760.2017.1365161 · Cited by 20
“This new writing-based approach was developed in response to (a) the wide-ranging benefits of previous writing-based interventions (Frattaroli, 2006; Smyth, 1998), (b) the inconsistent or null effects of previous writing-based interventions on PTG specifically, and (c) the potential advantages of…”
Background
Who Benefits from Pennebaker’s Expressive Writing? More Research Recommendations: A Commentary on Range and Jenkins
Stickney, L. T. (2010) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9771-9 · Cited by 17
Does an Online Positive Psychological Intervention Improve Positive Affect in Young Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic?
DuPont, C. M., Pressman, S. D., Reed, R. G., Manuck, S. B., Marsland, A. L., & Gianaros, P. J. (2023) · Affective Science · doi:10.1007/s42761-022-00148-z · Cited by 13
“A recent meta-analysis suggests that this style of writing has little impact on positive psychological functioning (r = 0.03; Frattaroli, 2006); however, extra precautions were taken to minimize increases in positive affect in response to writing daily activities.”
BackgroundInfluential
Effects of positive versus negative expressive writing exercises on adolescent academic achievement
Jones, B. K., & Destin, M. (2021) · Journal of Applied Social Psychology · doi:10.1111/jasp.12756 · Cited by 15
Effects of an expressive writing intervention in Chinese women undergoing pregnancy termination for fetal abnormality: A randomized controlled trial
Qian, J., Sun, S., Zhou, X., Wu, M., & Yu, X. (2021) · Midwifery · doi:10.1016/j.midw.2021.103104 · Cited by 15
Linguistically-tailored video feedback increases total and positive emotional expression in a structured writing task
Owen, J. E., Hanson, E. R., Preddy, D. A., & Bantum, E. O. (2010) · Computers in Human Behavior · doi:10.1016/j.chb.2010.11.012 · Cited by 14
Health Psychology and Writing
Murray, M. (2009) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105308100199 · Cited by 14
Emotional processing in an expressive writing task on trauma
Harrington, S. J., Morrison, O.-P., & Pascual‐Leone, A. (2018) · Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice · doi:10.1016/j.ctcp.2018.06.001 · Cited by 18
“…Lambert & Ogles, 2004; Wampold, 2001), the fact that an effect is present at all is impressive given the ease with which expressive writing is administered, the minimal length of time devoted to writing (i.e., one hour total), and the absence of guidance from a trained therapist (Frattaroli, 2006).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Emotional expression and health
Slatcher, R. B., & Pennebaker, J. W. (2001) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/cbo9780511543579.019 · Cited by 14
A randomized controlled trial of expressive writing in breast cancer survivors with lymphedema
Sohl, S. J., Dietrich, M. S., Wallston, K. A., & Ridner, S. H. (2017) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2017.1307372 · Cited by 16
“This differs from overall results of other studies reviewed in a meta-analysis, which found a reverse relationship such that those who were lower in optimism benefitted more from expressive writing (Frattaroli, 2006).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluential
Expressive writing to combat distress associated with the COVID-19 pandemic in people with inflammatory bowel disease (WriteForIBD): A trial protocol
Mikocka‐Walus, A. A., OLIVE, L. S., Skvarc, D., Beswick, L., Massuger, W., Raven, L., Emerson, C., & Evans, S. (2020) · Journal of Psychosomatic Research · doi:10.1016/j.jpsychores.2020.110286 · Cited by 13
“Significant improvements at 1 and 3 months were observed in IBS severity.”
Influential
Natural Disasters and Pregnancy: Population-Level Stressors and Interventions
King, S., Matvienko‐Sikar, K., & Laplante, D. P. (2021) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-3-030-60159-1_18 · Cited by 16
Cancer and aging: Reflections for elders- Expressive writing intervention: A pilot study
Tutino, R. C., Saracino, R. M., Kelman, J., Schofield, E., Roth, A. J. L., & Nelson, C. J. (2022) · Journal of Geriatric Oncology · doi:10.1016/j.jgo.2022.02.009 · Cited by 15
Project connect online: user and visitor experiences of an Internet-based intervention for women with breast cancer
Harris, L. N., Cleary, E. H., & Stanton, A. L. (2014) · Psycho-Oncology · doi:10.1002/pon.3734 · Cited by 14
“emotional approach coping) predicts improvement in psychological health [17,18] and, more specifically, positive adjustment to cancer [9,19,20].”
Background
Vision for improvement: Expressive writing as an intervention for people with Stargardt’s disease, a rare eye disease
Bryan, J. L., & Lü, Q. (2014) · Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1177/1359105314536453 · Cited by 14
“Although EW has been shown to benefit healthy populations, it has a much higher overall effect size on those with physical health problems (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
The Language of Psychological Change
North, R. J., Meyerson, R. L., Brown, D. N., & Holahan, C. J. (2012) · Journal of Language and Social Psychology · doi:10.1177/0261927x12456381 · Cited by 16
“A recent meta-analysis examining expressive writing revealed that emotional disclosure leads to improved psychological health, including decreases in distress, depressive symptoms, anger, and anxiety and increases in subjective well-being (Frattaroli, 2006).”
BackgroundInfluential
Social constraints, genetic vulnerability, and mental health following collective stress
Holman, E. A., Lucas‐Thompson, R. G., & Lu, T. (2011) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.20671 · Cited by 15
“Although talking about one’s thoughts and feelings following SLE is not always necessary or helpful (Seery, Silver, Holman, Ence, & Chu, 2008), sharing them with others can be beneficial for many people (Frattaroli, 2006; Lepore, Ragan, & Jones, 2000).”
Background
Disclosure Decisions in Existing Relationships Online
Greene, K. L., & Magsamen‐Conrad, K. (2010) · IGI Global eBooks · doi:10.4018/978-1-61520-827-2.ch004 · Cited by 14
Monitoring Interventions
Webb, T. L., & de Bruin, M. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.037 · Cited by 16
Language use predicts phenomenological properties of Holocaust memories and health
Boals, A., & Perez, A. S. (2009) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.1538 · Cited by 16
Randomized controlled expressive writing pilot in individuals with Parkinson’s disease and their caregivers
Cash, T. V., & Lageman, S. K. (2015) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-015-0101-4 · Cited by 15
“, exposure, cognitive restructuring) [45], and it has been demonstrated to consistently result in small to moderate effect sizes [16, 46].”
Background
Narrative characteristics of genocide testimonies predict posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms years later
Ng, L. C., Ahishakiye, N., Miller, D. E., & Meyerowitz, B. E. (2015) · Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy · doi:10.1037/tra0000024 · Cited by 13
“In addition, some studies have found that participants who wrote about distressing experiences have better physical and mental health outcomes months later compared with participants who wrote about neutral events (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Expressive Interviewing Agents to Support Health-Related Behavior Change: Randomized Controlled Study of COVID-19 Behaviors
Stewart, I., WELCH, C. A., An, L. C., Resnicow, K., Pennebaker, J. W., & Mihalcea, R. F. (2023) · JMIR Formative Research · doi:10.2196/40277 · Cited by 15
“This method has had a positive impact on participants’ physical and mental health [3,4], including a decrease in physician visits, adoption of positive behavior, and improved moods.”
Method
Building Resources in Caregivers: Feasibility of a Brief Writing Intervention to Increase Benefit Finding in Caregivers
Gallagher, S. M., O’Sullivan, L., Hughes, Z., & O’Connell, B. H. (2020) · Applied Psychology Health and Well-Being · doi:10.1111/aphw.12195 · Cited by 15
“Although initial studies asked participants to write about traumatic events as a way to facilitate cognitive processing and encourage recovery from the event (Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker, 1997), other studies have modified the writing instructions given to participants to focus on the positive experiences associated…”
Background
An Intervention to Change Illness Representations and Self-Care of Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Chan, V. W. Y., Kong, A. P. S., Lau, J. T. F., Mak, W. W. S., Cameron, L. D., & Mo, P. K. H. (2020) · Psychosomatic Medicine · doi:10.1097/psy.0000000000000883 · Cited by 14
A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Self-Compassion Writing Intervention for Adults With Mental Illness
Urken, D., & LeCroy, C. W. (2020) · Research on Social Work Practice · doi:10.1177/1049731520972779 · Cited by 15
“…at least three writing sessions had marginally larger effect sizes than studies with less than three sessions and that studies with writing sessions of at least 15 min duration had significantly larger effect sizes than studies with writing sessions of shorter periods of time (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Protective factors against suicide attempt in Iranian Kurdish women: a qualitative content analysis
Ariapooran, S., Khezeli, M., Janjani, P., Jafaralilou, H., Narimani, S., Mazaheri, M., & Khezeli, M. (2023) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/s12888-023-04544-y · Cited by 14
“Positive and effective communication helps to deal with stress, reduce hopelessness and depression in the face of painful life events and increase people’s resilience by increasing intimate relationships [58].”
Background
Crafting with AI: personalized pathways to boost critical language awareness and spark creativity in writing through digital adaptive learning
Rad, H. S., Alipour, J., Jafarpour, A., & Hashemian, M. (2024) · Language Awareness · doi:10.1080/09658416.2024.2431071 · Cited by 17
“Studies have demonstrated that writing can reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety, improve mood, and even enhance immune function (e.g. Pennebaker, 1997; Frattaroli, 2006).”
Reducing worry and subjective health complaints: A randomized trial of an internet‐delivered worry postponement intervention
Versluis, A., Verkuil, B., & BROSSCHOT, J. F. (2015) · British Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjhp.12170 · Cited by 13
“A review, including 146 studies, established that this has a positive effect on both psychological and physiological functioning (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Groupe d’écriture thérapeutique pour patients hospitalisés dans une maison des adolescents
Viardot, C., Rizzi, A. T., Lachal, J., & Moro, M. R. (2016) · La psychiatrie de l enfant · doi:10.3917/psye.591.0173 · Cited by 13
Expressive writing. A tool to help health workers of palliative care.
Tonarelli, A., Cosentino, C., Tomasoni, C., Nelli, L., Damiani, I., Goisis, S., Sarli, L., & Artioli, G. (2018) · Acta bio-medica dell'Ateneo parmense/Acta biomedica · doi:10.23750/abm.v89i6-s.7452 · Cited by 13
“Avoidance strategy 157 ,11 (1,50)/(1,50) Transcendent strategy 52 ,59 (2,37)/(2,37) Depersonalization 74 ,45 (,30)/(,20) Colleagues 274 ,00 (4,50)/(4,50)”
Influential
Effect of prolonged expressive writing on health outcomes in breast cancer patients receiving chemotherapy: a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Wu, Y., Liu, L., Zheng, W., Zheng, C., Xu, M., Chen, X., Li, W., Xie, L., Zhang, P., Zhu, X., et al. (2020) · Supportive Care in Cancer · doi:10.1007/s00520-020-05590-y · Cited by 15
Rewriting grief following bereavement and non-death loss: a pilot writing-for-wellbeing study
Elzen, K. D., Breen, L. J., & Neimeyer, R. A. (2023) · British Journal of Guidance and Counselling · doi:10.1080/03069885.2022.2160967 · Cited by 13
“In most Expressive Writing studies, participants are instructed to write about distressing events for 15–20 min on 3–5 occasions (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Targeting writing interventions to emotional processing level: a factorial experimental design
Maddalena, C. J., Saxey-Reese, R., & Barnes, E. L. (2013) · Quality & Quantity · doi:10.1007/s11135-013-9933-2 · Cited by 15
RETRACTED: Unlocking Past Emotion
Hart, W. (2012) · Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/0956797612446351 · Cited by 13
Retracted
An emotional processing writing intervention and heart rate variability: the role of emotional approach
Seeley, S. H., Yanez, B. R., Stanton, A. L., & Hoyt, M. A. (2016) · Cognition & Emotion · doi:10.1080/02699931.2016.1170667 · Cited by 15
“Despite the potential benefits of EP, interventions designed to promote EP have mixed results (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Unspoken Ink: A Structured, Creative Writing Workshop for Adolescents and Young Adult Cancer Patients as a Psychosocial Intervention
Peckham, J., Block, R., Buchanan, M., & Pommier, S. J. (2017) · Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology · doi:10.1089/jayao.2016.0001 · Cited by 11
“Expressive writing has been shown to be beneficial to patients’ physical and psychosocial well-being.(8,9) Previous research in this area has focused primarily on breast cancer patients, although expressive writing has been explored in other cancers.”
Self-Disclosing Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms in Couples: A Longitudinal Study
Stein, J. Y., Lahav, Y., & Solomon, Z. (2017) · Psychiatry · doi:10.1080/00332747.2016.1175836 · Cited by 13
“In non-veteran populations, empirical research indicates that the oral as well as written self-disclosure of distressing experiences may have significant salubrious effects (e.g., Frattaroli, 2006; Smyth, Pennebaker, & Arigo, 2012).”
Background
Content of client emails in internet-delivered cognitive behaviour therapy: A comparison between two trials and relationship to client outcome
Soucy, J. N., Hadjistavropoulos, H. D., Couture, C. A., Owens, V. A. M., Dear, B. F., & Titov, N. (2018) · Internet Interventions · doi:10.1016/j.invent.2018.01.006 · Cited by 15
“Past research, for instance, has shown that writing about one's thoughts and feelings results in small but significant improvements in wellbeing and reduced levels of depression, anger, and anxiety (Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker, 1993).”
Background
Qualitative analysis of the Best Possible Self intervention: Underlying mechanisms that influence its efficacy
Carrillo, A., Martínez-Sanchis, M., Etchemendy, E., & Baños, R. (2019) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0216896 · Cited by 13
“This intervention was developed initially by King [9], and it was based on the trauma writing paradigm, which had found that writing sessions about upsetting and negative topics (as a traumatic event) produced both physical and mental health improvements [10,11].”
MethodResult
Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of a Syndemics Intervention with HIV-Positive, Cocaine-Using Women
Jemison, D., Jackson, S., Oni, O., Cats-Baril, D., Thomas-Smith, S., Batchelder, A., Rodriguez, A. E., Dilworth, S. E., Metsch, L. R., Jones, D. L., et al. (2019) · AIDS and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10461-019-02625-2 · Cited by 13
“Expressive writing is an evidence-based, traumainformed intervention that has been shown to be modestly effective for improving psychological adjustment and physical health [19].”
Narrative Exposure Therapy to treat traumatic stress in Middle Eastern refugees: A clinical trial
Hijazi, A. M. (2012) · Human Biology · Cited by 13
Linguistic predictors of psychological adjustment in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic
Castiglioni, M., Caldiroli, C. L., Negri, A., Manzoni, G. M., & Procaccia, R. (2023) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph20054482 · Cited by 12
“Over the past 20 years [51], a body of research has documented the effects of writing about traumatic life events.”
Background
Positive expressive writing interventions, subjective health and wellbeing in non-clinical populations: A systematic review
Hoult, L. M., Wetherell, M. A., Edginton, T. L., & Smith, M. (2025) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0308928 · Cited by 21
Perceived Support From Multiple Sources: Associations With PTSD Symptoms
DiMauro, J., Renshaw, K. D., Smith, B. N., & Vogt, D. S. (2016) · Journal of Traumatic Stress · doi:10.1002/jts.22114 · Cited by 12
Memory recall/information retrieval challenges within the medical appointment: a review of the literature
Twomey, M., Sammon, D., & Nagle, T. (2020) · Journal of Decision System · doi:10.1080/12460125.2020.1809781 · Cited by 13
Disentangling the effects of trait and state worry on error‐related brain activity: Results from a randomized controlled trial using worry manipulations
Härpfer, K., Carsten, H. P., Löwisch, K., Westermann, N., & Riesel, A. (2022) · Psychophysiology · doi:10.1111/psyp.14055 · Cited by 15
The poetic wavelength – a narrative interview study exploring the potential of poetry to support meaning making and recovery following psychosis
Pearson, M., Rennick‐Egglestone, S., & Winship, G. (2022) · Psychosis · doi:10.1080/17522439.2022.2116475 · Cited by 12
“Conversely, Pennebaker’s creative writing model has established the benefits of creative writing for a broad range of people experiencing mental health problems (Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker & Beall, 1986; Pennebaker & Smyth, 2016).”
Background
Research on Expressive Writing in Psychology: A Forty-year Bibliometric Analysis and Visualization of Current Status and Research Trends
Gao, X. (2022) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2022.825626 · Cited by 18
“However, even though written emotional disclosure has been reported to have physical and psychological benefits (Frattaroli, 2006), the studies show that it has mixed results.”
BackgroundResult
Therapists' oxytocin response mediates the association between patients' negative emotions and psychotherapy outcomes
Fisher, H., Solomonov, N., Falkenström, F., Shahar, B., Shamay‐Tsoory, S., & Zilcha‐Mano, S. (2023) · Journal of Affective Disorders · doi:10.1016/j.jad.2023.06.013 · Cited by 12
Expressive writing as a practice against work stress: A literature review
Lukenda, K., Sülzenbrück, S., & Sutter, C. (2023) · Journal of Workplace Behavioral Health · doi:10.1080/15555240.2023.2240512 · Cited by 18
“Although slight to moderate impacts were found in most of the conducted meta-analyses (Frattaroli, 2006; Frisina et al., 2004; Pavlacic et al., 2019; Qian et al., 2020; Smyth, 1998), three meta-analytical studies were not able to detect an effect (Meads & Nouwen, 2005; Mogk et al., 2006; Reinhold,…”
Result
Written benefit finding for improving psychological health during the Covid-19 pandemic first wave lockdown
Hansen, S. R., Wetherell, M. A., & Smith, M. (2021) · Psychology and Health · doi:10.1080/08870446.2021.1936521 · Cited by 12
“…from a large evidence base which has accrued over the past 30 years suggests that writing to disclose negative thoughts and feelings about a stressful experience can, after an initial increase in distress, elicit beneficial effects on health (Frattaroli, 2006; Nyssen et al., 2016; Smyth, 1998).”
Background
Self-Disclosure to a Robot "In-the-Wild": Category, Human Personality and Robot Identity
Neerincx, A., Edens, C., Broz, F., Li, Y., & Neerincx, M. A. (2022) · IEEE RO-MAN · doi:10.1109/ro-man53752.2022.9900566 · Cited by 12
“For example, self-disclosure has a positive relationship with achieving a healthy personality [6], and it can lead to a positive effect on psychological well-being [7].”
Background
The Therapeutic Effects of Completing Autobiographical Memory Questionnaires for Positive and Negative Events: An Experimental Approach
Boals, A., Hathaway, L. M., & Rubin, D. C. (2011) · Cognitive Therapy and Research · doi:10.1007/s10608-011-9412-9 · Cited by 14
“For example, participants who are asked to write about their ‘deepest thoughts and feelings’ in regards to a stressful event (known as the expressive writing or emotional disclosure intervention) experience both mental health and physical health benefits (Frattaroli 2006).”
Background
Can virtues enhance the benefits of expressive writing among healthy Chinese? A pilot study
Zhang, Y., Duan, W., Tang, X., & Yang, Z. (2014) · Journal of Mental Health · doi:10.3109/09638237.2014.924050 · Cited by 12
“A meta-analysis conducted by Frattaroli (2006) found that personality was a critical moderator, which could influence various obtained benefits of participants, including psychological health, physiological functioning and reported health.”
Method
Type D moderates the effects of expressive writing on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) following myocardial infarction (MI)
Hevey, D., Wilczkiewicz, E., & Horgan, J. (2012) · The Irish Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1080/03033910.2012.708901 · Cited by 12
“Although initial studies allowed participants to change the topics for each writing session, current research requires participants to write about a specific event across sessions to facilitate cognitive processing of the event (Frattaroli, 2006 ).”
Background
Ethical decision-making interrupted: Can cognitive tools improve decision-making following an interruption?
Stenmark, C. K., Riley, K., & Kreitler, C. M. (2019) · Ethics & Behavior · doi:10.1080/10508422.2019.1683012 · Cited by 13
Critical and Qualitative Approaches to Behavior Change
Chamberlain, K., & Lyons, A. C. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.030 · Cited by 13
Examining the consistency of the good target across contexts and domains of personality
Wallace, J. D., & Biesanz, J. C. (2020) · Journal of Personality · doi:10.1111/jopy.12574 · Cited by 12
Value of Community Partnership for Understanding Stress and Coping in Rural Yup'ik Communities: The CANHR Study.
Rivkin, I. D., Lopez, E., Quaintance, T., Trimble, J. E., Hopkins, S. E., Fleming, C. M., Orr, E., & Mohatt, G. V. (2010) · PubMed · Cited by 12
Dispositional emotion coping styles and physiological responses to expressive writing
Tamagawa, R., Moss-Morris, R. E., Martin, A., Robinson, E., & Booth, R. J. (2012) · British Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1111/bjhp.12004 · Cited by 12
“Subsequently, a wide range of beneficial health effects have been found (Frattaroli, 2006; also see Smyth, 1998).”
Background
Content Analysis of Expressive Writing Narratives About Stressful Relational Events Using Interpersonal Decentering
Jenkins, S. R., Austin, H. L., & Boals, A. (2013) · Journal of Language and Social Psychology · doi:10.1177/0261927x13479188 · Cited by 12
“…breakups Many studies and three meta-analyses show the efficacy of expressive writing (EW) to improve physical and psychological health (Frattaroli, 2006; Frisina, Borod, & 1University of North Texas, Denton, TX, USA Corresponding Author: Sharon Rae Jenkins, University of North Texas,…”
Background
Letting Oneself Go Isn't Enough: Cognitively Oriented Expressive Writing Reduces Preadolescent Peer Problems
Travagin, G., Margola, D., Dennis, J. L., & Revenson, T. A. (2016) · Journal of Research on Adolescence · doi:10.1111/jora.12279 · Cited by 12
“EW has shown small but consistent benefits for a variety of mental and physical health outcomes among college students and adult populations (Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker, Facchin, & Margola, 2010).”
BackgroundResultInfluential
Brief report: A qualitative evidence synthesis of the psychological processes of school‐based expressive writing interventions with adolescents
Doucet, M., Guzzo, M. F., & Groleau, D. (2018) · Journal of Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.adolescence.2018.09.010 · Cited by 12
Emotional Memory, Psychopathology, and Well‐Being
Salmon, K., & O’Kearney, R. (2013) · Wiley eBooks · doi:10.1002/9781118597705.ch33 · Cited by 11
Maximizing User Engagement with Behavior Change Interventions
Yardley, L., Morrison, L. G., Müller, I., & Bradbury, K. J. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.025 · Cited by 11
#infertility: how patients can benefit from the public discussion of conversational taboos on social media
Grothaus, J., Köcher, S., Köcher, S., & Dieterle, S. (2023) · Journal of Services Marketing · doi:10.1108/jsm-05-2022-0160 · Cited by 11
Do expressive writing interventions have positive effects on Koreans?: a meta-analysis
Lee, Y., Kim, D., & Lim, J. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1204053 · Cited by 16
Communicated perspective-taking (CPT) and storylistening: Testing the impact of CPT in the context of friends telling stories of difficulty
Kellas, J. K., Baker, J., Cardwell, M. E., Minniear, M. J., & Horstman, H. K. (2020) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/0265407520955239 · Cited by 11
“Research in the expressive writing paradigm typically has participants talk about highly upsetting or traumatic events and has shown benefits of making sense of these significant difficulties (see Frattaroli, 2006).”
BackgroundMethodResultInfluential
A randomised controlled trial (RCT) exploring the impact of a photography intervention on wellbeing and posttraumatic growth during the COVID-19 pandemic
Read, R. K., Mason, O. J., & Jones, C. J. (2022) · Arts & Health · doi:10.1080/17533015.2022.2107033 · Cited by 14
“Written disclosure can facilitate cathartic inhibition of thoughts and feelings (Lepore & Smyth, 2002), sense-making around an experience (Pennebaker, 1993), and a stronger sense of being able to regulate one’s own emotions (Frattaroli, 2006; King, 2002).”
Background
Revisiting the multidimensional interaction model of stress, anxiety and coping during the COVID-19 pandemic: a longitudinal study
Rogowska, A. M., Ochnik, D., & Kuśnierz, C. (2022) · BMC Psychology · doi:10.1186/s40359-022-00950-1 · Cited by 11
“Previous research indicated that such strategies as disclosure and expressive writing might improve health and well-being [50, 51].”
Background
mHealth and social mediation: Mobile support among stigmatized people living with HIV and substance use disorder
Yang, F., Shah, D. V., Tahk, A., Vjorn, O. J., Dietz, S., Pe-Romashko, K., Bailey, E., Gicquelais, R. E., Hwang, J., Gustafson, D., et al. (2023) · New Media & Society · doi:10.1177/14614448231158653 · Cited by 10
“Expressive writing is beneficial for health outcomes because disclosure is associated with reductions in inhibitions, stigma, and feelings associated with trauma, reducing distress and depression (Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker, 1997).”
Background
Longitudinal analysis of children's internal states language and posttraumatic stress symptoms following a natural disaster
Legerski, J.-P., Greenhoot, A., Vernberg, E., Greca, A. L., & Silverman, W. (2015) · Applied Cognitive Psychology · doi:10.1002/acp.3081 · Cited by 12
Targeting Interventions: Moderators of the Effects of Expressive Writing and Assertiveness Training on the Adjustment of International University Students
Hijazi, A. M., Tavakoli, S., Slavin‐Spenny, O. M., & Lumley, M. A. (2011) · International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling · doi:10.1007/s10447-011-9117-5 · Cited by 11
Evaluation of a Cognitive Tool for Enhanced Decision Making and Personal Change among College Students
Kreitler, C. M., Dansereau, D. F., Barth, T. M., Repasky, G. T., & Miller, J. R. (2012) · NACADA Journal · doi:10.12930/0271-9517-32.1.18 · Cited by 11
“Research suggests PBW facilitates emotional release, leading to improved coping processes (Frattaroli, 2006; Lyubomirsky, Sousa, & Dickerhoof, 2006; Sloan, Marx, Epstein, & Dobbs, 2008) as well as improved immune function and diminished health-care visits (Esterling, Antoni, Fletcher, Margulies, & Schneiderman, 1994;…”
Background
Global and Situational Relationship Satisfaction Moderate the Effect of Threat on Pain in Couples
Corley, A. M., Caño, A., Goubert, L., Vlaeyen, J. W. S., & Wurm, L. H. (2016) · Pain Medicine · doi:10.1093/pm/pnw022 · Cited by 12
“My Boss is Probably the Devil!” Exploring Employees’ Online Vents The last two authors contributed equally to the manuscript and are therefore listed alphabetically.
Shoss, M. K., Maurer, A., & Rupprecht, E. A. (2013) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/s1746-9791(2013)0000009016 · Cited by 11
Behavioral interventions in health neuroscience
Dutcher, J. M., & Creswell, J. D. (2018) · Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1111/nyas.13913 · Cited by 12
The importance of social relationships for brain tumor patients’ quality of life: A case for the inclusion of the concept of disclosure in psycho-oncological care
Köhler, M., Steinmann, E., Mehdorn, H. M., Pedersen, A., & Goebel, S. (2019) · Journal of Psychosocial Oncology · doi:10.1080/07347332.2019.1642283 · Cited by 12
“Within the framework of trauma-related research, the concept of disclosure as interpersonal factor has received increasing interest in the last years.32 While detrimental interactions as described above are those actions by a member in the patients’s social network that cause distress, disclosure comprises the communi…”
Background
Using Expressive Writing to Test an Evolutionary Hypothesis About Depressive Rumination: Sadness Coincides with Causal Analysis of a Personal Problem, Not Problem-solving Analysis
Maslej, M. M., Rheaume, A. R., Schmidt, L. A., & Andrews, P. W. (2019) · Evolutionary Psychological Science · doi:10.1007/s40806-019-00219-8 · Cited by 10
Effect of Expressive Writing on the Subjective Well-Being of University Students
Cayubit, R. F. O. (2021) · Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia · doi:10.7454/hubs.asia.1130520 · Cited by 17
“…empirical evidences cited by literature on the effectiveness of expressive writing as a self-help intervention that allows individuals a safe way to recognize, understand, validate and accept their feelings and emotions (Frattaroli, 2006; Greenberg & Lepore, 2004; Lepore, Greenberg et al., 2002).”
Background
Linguistic features of postpartum depression using Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count text analysis
Landoni, M., Silverio, S. A., Ciuffo, G., Daccò, M., Petrovic, M., Blasio, P. D., & Ionio, C. (2022) · Journal of Neonatal Nursing · doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2022.04.001 · Cited by 11
Writing about justice and injustice: Complex effects on affect, performance, threat, and biological responses to acute social stress among african American women and men
Lucas, T., Yamin, J. B., Krohner, S., Goetz, S. M. M., Köpetz, C., & Lumley, M. A. (2022) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2022.115019 · Cited by 11
Expressive writing in context: The effects of a confessional setting and delivery of instructions on participant experience and language in writing
Corter, A. L., & Petrie, K. J. (2008) · British Journal of Health Psychology · doi:10.1348/135910707x250929 · Cited by 11
Gender Schemas, Gender Roles, and Expressive Writing: Toward a Process-focused Model
Bornstein, R. F. (2010) · Sex Roles · doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9752-z · Cited by 11
Using Writing as Therapy: Finding Identity
Cooper, P. (2014) · British Journal of Occupational Therapy · doi:10.4276/030802214x14176260335345 · Cited by 11
How does social anger expression predict later depression symptoms? It depends on how often one is angry.
Chue, A. E., Gunthert, K. C., Ahrens, A. H., & Skalina, L. M. (2016) · Emotion · doi:10.1037/emo0000239 · Cited by 11
Randomized clinical trial of expressive writing on wound healing following bariatric surgery.
Koschwanez, H. E., Robinson, H., Beban, G. R., MacCormick, A. D., Hill, A. G., Windsor, J. A., Booth, R. J., Jüllig, M., & Broadbent, E. (2017) · Health Psychology · doi:10.1037/hea0000494 · Cited by 11
On the Implementation of Written Exposure Therapy (WET) with Veterans Diagnosed with PTSD
Sloan, D. M., & Marx, B. P. (2017) · Pragmatic Case Studies in Psychotherapy · doi:10.14713/pcsp.v13i2.2005 · Cited by 11
“Shockingly, in spite of the procedure’s brevity, a large number of published studies have demonstrated its robust physical and psychological health benefits (for a review see Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background

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

About these checks

Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.

Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.

Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.

What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›

Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review

Experimental disclosure and its moderators: A meta-analysis.

Abstract

Overview

Integrity signals

Verification

Claims the paper makes

Claims other papers make about this one

Citations

Cites

Cited by

Related

Metadata

Record

About these checks