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Seeing the glass half full: Optimistic expressive writing improves mental health among chronically stressed caregivers
Author(s) -
Mackenzie Corey S.,
Wiprzycka Ursula J.,
Hasher Lynn,
Goldstein David
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
british journal of health psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.05
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 2044-8287
pISSN - 1359-107X
DOI - 10.1348/135910707x251153
Subject(s) - psychology , session (web analytics) , narrative , mental health , developmental psychology , randomized controlled trial , clinical psychology , psychotherapist , medicine , linguistics , philosophy , surgery , world wide web , computer science
Objectives. This study explored treatment mediators among caregivers of older adults who did not benefit from expressive writing in a recently published randomized clinical trial. Methods. Twenty‐seven expressive writing and time management participants completed questionnaires prior to writing, following their fourth writing session, and 1 month later. We examined the effect of group differences in linguistic markers on health improvements. Results and conclusions. Our hypothesis concerning narrative development received no support, and expected links between function words and health were partially confirmed. Results most strongly supported the hypothesis that expressive writing benefited caregivers who used increasingly positive, optimistic, and future‐focused language.