The Effects of Expressive Writing on Adjustment to HIV

Abstract

Previous research suggests that writing about stressful experiences results in better health and psychological well-being. In the present study, a multi-ethnic sample of 79 HIV-positive women and men participated in a structured interview, and wrote about either their deepest thoughts and feelings about living with HIV (expressive writing) or their activities in the last 24 hr (control). Sixty-two participants returned for the 2-month follow-up and 50 returned for the 6-month follow-up interview. Oral fluid samples of beta2-microglobulin were taken at the baseline and follow-up assessments to examine the immunological effects of writing. No effects of writing condition were found, but expressive writing participants who included increasing insight/causation and social words in their writing had better immune function and reported more positive changes at follow-up. Results suggest that cognitive processing and changes in social interactions may be critical to the benefits of writing.

Effects of a cognitive behavioral self-help program and a computerized structured writing intervention on depressed mood for HIV-infected people: A pilot randomized controlled trial

“…This is not in line with an earlier study in which promising results for the effects of structured writing were found for people with HIV [22,23]. Future studies should examine individual differences and the influence of increasing the frequency of sessions.…”

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

“…These hypotheses were in line with findings from prior research (e.g. Pennebaker, 1993;Pennebaker, Mayne & Francis, 1997;Rivkin et al, 2006).…”

“…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.…”

Cognitive Adaptability as a Moderator of Expressive Writing Effects in an HIV Sample

“…An initial improvement in viral load was observed between preand postintervention; however, no subsequent improvement was seen across the 6 month follow-up time frame. Rivkin et al (2006) found no difference between the expressive writing and the control writing groups on depressive symptoms, immune function, or perceived positive and negative changes related to HIV diagnosis. A study by Marston (2003) also found no main effects for an expressive writing group when compared to a control group, but did find that individuals low on avoidance in the expressive writing group had lower negative mood at the 2 month follow-up when compared with those individuals who were high on avoidance.…”