Expressive writing and posttraumatic growth: an internet-based study
Open accessAbstract
This study examined the effects of Internet-based expressive writing on posttraumatic growth. Expressive (n = 14) and control writing (n = 10) participants wrote for 15 min on 3 occasions spaced 3 days apart. Measures of intrusive and avoidant thoughts and posttraumatic growth were administered at baseline and 2- and 8-week postintervention follow-ups. Results showed that posttraumatic growth significantly increased from baseline to 8-week follow-up in the expressive writing group, while there was no significant change in levels of posttraumatic growth in the control group. Intrusive and avoidant cognitions did not differ between writing groups. Analyses of language use showed that greater use of insight words was associated with an increase in posttraumatic growth. Findings are consistent with cognitive processing models of expressive writing and have implications for Internet-administered expressive writing.
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Writing interventions are easily translatable into an online offer because instructions to write can be highly standardized and directive.
“As instructions to write can be highly standardized and directive, writing interventions are easily translatable into an online offer (Baikie et al., 2012; Stockton et al., 2014; Goss and Anthony, 2004).”
From Feasibility of a Software agent providing a brief Intervention for Self-help to Uplift psychological wellbeing (“SISU”). A single-group pretest-posttest trial investigating the potential of SISU to act as therapeutic agent (2021) · cites this paper as Stockton et al., 2014
The average length of participants' narratives was comparable to those in other studies online and offline.
“The average length of participants' narratives was comparable to those in other studies online and offline (Baum and Rude, 2013; McGuire et al., n.d.; Stockton et al., 2014; Smyth et al., 2001).”
From Feasibility of a Software agent providing a brief Intervention for Self-help to Uplift psychological wellbeing (“SISU”). A single-group pretest-posttest trial investigating the potential of SISU to act as therapeutic agent (2021) · cites this paper as Stockton et al., 2014
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“The average length of participants ’ narratives was comparable to those in other studies online and offline (Baum and Rude, 2013; McGuire et al., n.d.; Stockton et al., 2014; Smyth et al., 2001).”
BackgroundResult
- Authors
- Stockton, H., Joseph, S., & Hunt, N.
- Affiliations
- University of Nottingham (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Hunt, Nigel
- Venue
- Traumatology An International Journal
- Published
- 2014-06
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 75-83
- ISSN
- 1085-9373 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2331515653
- Cited by
- 46
- References
- 60
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 3 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4
- FWCI
- 5.93
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- doi.org
- Licence
- other-oa
- Locations
- Traumatology An International Journal (publishedVersion)
- Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (acceptedVersion, other-oa)
- Nottingham ePrints (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Repository@Nottingham (University of Nottingham) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Oncology › Cancer survivorship and care
- Keywords
- expressive writing, posttraumatic growth, online intervention, intrusive thoughts, avoidance, cognitive processing models, trauma recovery
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