Writing about the perceived benefits of traumatic events: Implications for physical health

被引:166
作者
King, LA [1 ]
Miner, KN [1 ]
机构
[1] So Methodist Univ, Dept Psychol, Dallas, TX 75275 USA
关键词
D O I
10.1177/0146167200264008
中图分类号
B84 [心理学];
学科分类号
04 ; 0402 ;
摘要
Research by Pennebaker and his colleagues supports the healing power of writing about traumatic events. This study explored the importance of writing about the perceived benefits of traumatic events as a factor in this process. The study included 118 participants who were randomly assigned to write about one of four topics in a 2 (writing about perceived benefits vs. not writing about perceived benefits) x 2 (writing about trauma vs, not writing about trauma) factorial design. Participants also completed questionnaire measures of subjective well-being and released health center information for the year Participants who wrote only about trauma or perceived benefits showed significantly fewer health center visits for illness 3 months after writing In addition, 5 months after writing the trauma-only and perceived-benefits-only groups maintained a difference from the control group. These results suggest that writing about perceived benefits from traumatic events may provide a less upsetting but effective way to benefit from writing.
引用
收藏
页码:220 / 230
页数:11
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