Abstract
The purpose of this study was to examine the cathartic and therapeutic effects of written essays and therapy interviews about traumatic events over four successive days as compared with a control writing about trivial events. The subjects were 102 male and female college students. A content analysis showed that both treatment groups expressed more positive and negative emotion than the control as well as showed more cognitive, self-esteem, and behavior changes. Positive emotion, cognitive changes, and self-esteem changes increased over days while negative emotion decreased. Pain and upset about the topic decreased over days for both treatment groups. A post-experimental questionnaire showed that both treatment groups felt more positive about their topics and themselves. On the other hand, there were dramatic differences in pre- to post-session mood with written expression consistently increasing negative mood and decreasing positive mood.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
