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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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Les bienfaits de l’écriture chez les malades chroniques… où en sont les recherches ?
Salesse, M., Saucier, J., & Mavrikakis, C. (2014) · Neuropsychiatrie de l Enfance et de l Adolescence · doi:10.1016/j.neurenf.2014.05.003 · Cited by 5
Minority Stressors and Dual Identities: An Analysis of Lesbians’ Expressive Writing Journals
Braitman, A. L., Lewis, R. J., Derlega, V. J., & Wilson, S. A. (2008) · Journal of Lesbian Studies · doi:10.1080/10894160802278663 · Cited by 5
Wie wirkt Expressives Schreiben? Differenzielle Wirkfaktoren des Schreibens über belastende Lebensereignisse
Niedtfeld, I., Schmidt, A. F., & Scholz, O. B. (2008) · Verhaltenstherapie · doi:10.1159/000129682 · Cited by 5
‘Not like rose-tinted glasses… like taking a pair of dirty glasses off’: A pilot intervention using positive emotions in expressive writing
Hayes, M., & Hefferon, K. (2015) · International Journal of Wellbeing · doi:10.5502/ijw.v5i4.435 · Cited by 5
“…writing (Pennebaker & Beall, 1986; Pennebaker & Chung, 2011), which demonstrates the various emotional and physical health benefits of writing about one’s ‘deepest thoughts and feelings’, has been extensively studied via quantitative methods (for a review see Frattaroli, 2006; Sloan & Marx, 2004).”
Method
Using Writing as Therapy: Finding identity—an evaluation of its effects upon clinical outcomes and service
Cooper, P., & Davis, D. A. (2016) · International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation · doi:10.12968/ijtr.2016.23.2.64 · Cited by 5
Pain catastrophizing predicts verbal expression among children with chronic pain and their mothers
Langer, S. L., Romano, J. M., Liu, Q., Levy, R. L., Nielson, H., & Brown, J. D. (2016) · Health Psychology Open · doi:10.1177/2055102916632667 · Cited by 5
“Other studies demonstrated greater benefit among those using a high number of positive emotion words and a moderate number of negative emotion words (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Writing about emotional dissonance in client experiences benefits human service professionals
Sekiya, D., & Yukawa, S. (2009) · The Japanese journal of psychology · doi:10.4992/jjpsy.80.295 · Cited by 5
The efficacy of expressive writing intervention: the role of optimism and alexithymia
del Pino‐Sedeño, T., Peñate, W., Fumero, A., Pérez, J. M. B., & Zambrano, S. E. O. (2016) · European Journal of Investigation in Health Psychology and Education · doi:10.1989/ejihpe.v6i3.179 · Cited by 5
Emotional Expression and Disclosure
Booth, R. J. (2012) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oxfordhb/9780195394399.013.0007 · Cited by 5
Caring for Caregivers (C4C): study protocol for a pilot feasibility randomised control trial of Positive Written Disclosure for older adult caregivers of people with psychosis
Hazell, C. M., Jones, C. J., Hayward, M., Bremner, S. A., O'Connor, D. B., Pinfold, V., & Smith, H. E. (2017) · Pilot and Feasibility Studies · doi:10.1186/s40814-017-0206-z · Cited by 5
The Impact of Self-Narrative Framing of a Close Person’s Sudden Death on Coping With the Meaning in Life
Odachowska, E., Trzebiński, J., & Prusik, M. (2019) · Journal of Loss and Trauma · doi:10.1080/15325024.2019.1565145 · Cited by 5
Addressing Underserved Populations and Disparities in Behavior Change
Schüz, B., & Hooper, M. W. (2020) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781108677318.027 · Cited by 5
Creative and Expressive Arts in a Young Adult Problem-Solving Court and Its Influence on Participant Experience and Outcomes
Pope, R. J., & Jones, J. N. (2021) · Youth & Society · doi:10.1177/0044118x211019781 · Cited by 5
“Moreover, the researchers noted that the actual act of self-discourse through expressive writing is beneficial for psychological wellness, physical health, and overall functioning (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Beyond traits and states: Interpersonal decentering is also activated social information processing
Jenkins, S. R., Shamji, J. F., Straup, M. L., & Boals, A. (2021) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2021.111332 · Cited by 5
College students’ mental illness disclosure and self-esteem: a moderating role of self-image goals
Taniguchi, E. (2021) · Journal of American College Health · doi:10.1080/07448481.2020.1865973 · Cited by 5
Does Guided Written Disclosure Reduce Distress and Improve Psychological Functioning in Patients with Skin Diseases?
Quinto, R. M., Iani, L., Vincenzo, F. D., Russo, F., Porcelli, P., & ABENI, D. D. (2022) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph19052943 · Cited by 5
“Previous research on the effects of GWD on health outcomes led to mixed results and the effectiveness of writing interventions is still unclear and controversial [14].”
BackgroundResult
Recuperating writers - and writing: the potential of writing therapy
Murphy, P. N. F. (2008) · TEXT · doi:10.52086/001c.31618 · Cited by 5
Validación cognitiva de un protocolo instruccional de reexperimentación emocional en adultos víctimas de violencia política en Colombia
Barreto, I., Castro, W. P., Landinez, L. J. R., Ardila-Cubillos, D. C., Garzón‐Velandia, D. C., Zambrano-Hernández, S., Blanco, A., & Cameselle, J. M. S. (2022) · Acta Colombiana de Psicología · doi:10.14718/acp.2022.25.2.7 · Cited by 5
“…e integra los detalles del evento ocurrido; pero se ha encontrado que el formato oral resulta más sencillo para los participantes porque presenta menos demandas cognitivas y la re se da de forma espontánea al aumentar la expresión emocional por medio de la expresión verbal (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Examining Illness through Pediatric Poetry and Prose: A Mixed Methods Study
Grossoehme, D. H., Robinson, N., Friebert, S. E., Brown, M. F., & Aultman, J. M. (2022) · Narrative Inquiry in Bioethics · doi:10.1353/nib.2022.0017 · Cited by 5
Behavioral Strategies for Trauma-Informed Elementary General Music Education for Students With Emotional/Behavioral Disorders: A Review of the Literature
Price, E. E. (2022) · UPDATE: Applications of Research in Music Education · doi:10.1177/87551233221120235 · Cited by 6
“, 1994), delayed symptom onset (Pitman, 1989), or nondisclosure (Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
The writing processes underpinning wellbeing: Insight and emotional clarity in poetic autoethnography and freewriting
Hanauer, D. I. (2022) · Frontiers in Communication · doi:10.3389/fcomm.2022.923824 · Cited by 5
“Expressive writing has been shown to produce positive effects on wellbeing (Lepore et al., 2002; Frattaroli, 2006; Pennebaker and Chung, 2007; Lepore and Kliewer, 2013; Kállay, 2015).”
BackgroundInfluential
Narrative Health: Examining the relationship between the phenomenon of awe and resilience and well-being
Thompson, J. (2023) · Journal of Community Safety and Well-Being · doi:10.35502/jcswb.321 · Cited by 8
“Sharing meaningful narratives that include disclosing personal feelings and thoughts can support people’s psychological and overall wellbeing (Frattaroli, 2006), increase self-awareness, self-efficacy, self-control, and openness with others, and promote better decision-making (Bauer & Bonanno,…”
Privacy Preferences and the Drive to Disclose
Carbone, E., & Loewenstein, G. F. (2023) · Current Directions in Psychological Science · doi:10.1177/09637214231196097 · Cited by 5
“Sharing emotionally evocative experiences can increase long-term well-being and produce positive health outcomes, including improved immune functioning and a reduction of intrusive thoughts and physical symptoms associated with traumatic events (for a review, see Frattaroli, 2006).”
Background
Written exposure therapy for veterans with co-occurring substance use disorders and PTSD: Study design of a randomized clinical trial
Meshberg‐Cohen, S., Cook, J. M., Bin-Mahfouz, A., & Petrakis, I. L. (2024) · Contemporary Clinical Trials · doi:10.1016/j.cct.2024.107475 · Cited by 6
The Psychological Cost of Restitution: Supportive Intervention with Canadian Indian Residential School Survivors
Morrissette, P. J., & Goodwill, A. (2013) · Journal of Aggression Maltreatment & Trauma · doi:10.1080/10926771.2013.785459 · Cited by 5
“Among others (e.g., DeGiacomo, L’Abate, Pennebaker, & Rumbaugh, 2010; Frattaroli, 2006; Lepore, Ragan, & Jones, 2000), Ullmann (2011) pointed out that trauma disclosure might have a cathartic effect that reduces internal stress and thus improves physical health.”
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

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