The effects of different methods of emotional disclosure: differentiating post‐traumatic growth from stress symptoms

Abstract

Research on emotional disclosure should test the effects of different disclosure methods and whether symptoms are affected differently than post-traumatic growth. We randomized 214 participants with unresolved stressful experiences to four disclosure conditions (written, private spoken, talking to a passive listener, talking to an active facilitator) or two control conditions. All groups had one 30-minute session. After six weeks, disclosure groups reported more post-traumatic growth than controls, and disclosure conditions were similar in this effect. All groups decreased in stress symptoms (intrusions, avoidance, psychological and physical symptoms), but disclosure did not differ from control. We conclude that 30 minutes of disclosure leads to post-traumatic growth but not necessarily symptom reduction, and various disclosure methods have similar effects. Research on the effects of disclosure should focus on the benefits of growth as well as symptom reduction.

Brief Narrative Exposure Therapy for Posttraumatic Stress in Iraqi Refugees: A Preliminary Randomized Clinical Trial

“…The finding that brief NET improves posttraumatic growth adds to the body of research about potential positive effects of recovery from trauma. Most research on posttraumatic growth has been naturalistic and descriptive; however, our experimental findings support those of a few other studies, which show that an exposure or emotional processing intervention can directly promote posttraumatic growth (e.g., Hagenaars & van Minnen, ; Slavin‐Spenny, Cohen, Oberleitner, & Lumley, ; Smyth et al., ). Brief NET may shift people with painful emotional memories from fearful avoidance to courageous confrontation.…”

Posttraumatic growth within the first three months after accidental injury in China: The role of self-disclosure, cognitive processing, and psychosocial resources

“…Studies have supported the link between self-disclosure and PTG; participants who talked about their trauma with others had higher self-reported PTG than those who did not (Taku et al, 2009). Expressing feelings about the trauma was positively linked to PTG (Slavin-Spenny, Cohen, Oberleitner, & Lumley, 2011;Wagner, Hilker, Hepworth, & Wallston, 2010). Self-disclosure may help individuals find meaning of the events through cognitive processing and emotional expression (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 2004).…”

Expressive writing and posttraumatic growth: An Internet-based study.

“…In addition, several other studies (e.g. Park & Blumberg, 2002;Rivkin, Gustafson, Weingarten & Chin, 2006;Slavin-Spenny, Cohen, Oberleitner & Lumley, 2011) have found no effect of expressive writing on stressrelated growth. Frattaroli's (2006) meta-analysis also demonstrated that there is currently insufficient evidence to conclude that expressive writing can facilitate posttraumatic growth, but that methodological differences may have influenced existing study outcomes.…”

“…Those studies finding a positive effect of expressive writing used the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI; Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) whilst, with the exception of Slavin-Spenny et al (2011), the studies finding no effect of writing used alternative assessments of growth. These findings suggest that the effects of expressive Expressive Writing and Posttraumatic Growth 5 writing may be limited to the PTGI.…”