Written Emotional Expression and Religion: Effects on PTSD Symptoms
Abstract
Objective: Previous research has found an association between writing about traumatic events and well-being. This study examined the effects of taking a religious perspective during a trauma-writing exercise. Method: Participants included 177 college students who were assigned randomly to either a conventional trauma writing or a religious trauma writing condition. Participants in the conventional writing condition were instructed to write about a traumatic experience, while participants in the religious writing condition were instructed to write about the trauma from a religious/spiritual perspective. Well-being was assessed by symptoms of PTSD at one-month follow-up. Results: Writing condition was found to interact with trauma severity and gender to affect PTSD symptoms at follow-up. Conventional writing was more effective (in reducing PTSD symptoms) for participants reporting lower trauma severity than for those who reported higher trauma severity. Effects of religious writing on PTSD symptoms were not influenced by trauma severity. Also, women benefited more from religious writing than men did with regard to reductions in PTSD symptoms. Conclusion: It appears possible to adapt the conventional written emotional expression procedure in a way that encourages individuals to take a religious perspective, thereby augmenting effects on distress. These findings support further investigation of integrating religion into trauma interventions, particularly for individuals exposed to highly traumatic events.
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Of the 67 studies with quality ratings of seven or higher on R/S and anxiety, 38 (55%) reported inverse relationships and seven (10%) found positive relationships.
“Of the 67 studies with quality ratings of seven or higher, 38 (55%) reported inverse relationships [173–182] and seven (10%) found positive relationships (greater anxiety among the more R/S) [183–189].”
From Religion, Spirituality, and Health: The Research and Clinical Implications (2012) · cites this paper as [174]
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- Authors
- Chen, Y. Y.
- Affiliations
- Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey (US)
- Corresponding author
- Chen, Yung Y.
- Venue
- The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2005-09
- Volume
- 35
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 273-286
- ISSN
- 0033-278X (ISSN-L)
- 0091-2174
- 1541-3527
- OpenAlex
- W2108235765
- Cited by
- 56
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2023: 44 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2012: 4
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- The International Journal of Psychiatry in Medicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health via Writing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Research
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Keywords
- trauma writing, religious perspectives, posttraumatic stress symptoms, injury severity, gender differences, university students, expressive writing
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Affect, Female, Humans, Male, Surveys and Questionnaires, Religion and Psychology, Sex Factors, Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic, Verbal Behavior, Writing
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