Selbstöffnung beim Schreiben über belastende Lebensereignisse: Ein Weg in die Gesundheit? = Self-disclosure when writing about stressful life events.

Theoretical background: Research initiated by Pennebaker and collegues on self-disclosure and the beneficial influence of emotional expression, when writing about past stressful events, forms the theoretical basis of the presented studies. According to Pennebaker, findings from a large number studies have demonstrated and confirmed the positive effect of disclosure, a brief and economical intervention, on long-term measures of health. Method: The aim of the first study was to replicate the Pennebaker and Beall (1986) study with the expectation of corroborating the effects described by the authors. In addition to the measures employed in the original study, a number of essay variables and personality characteristics, viewed as potentially possessing a moderator function for the outcome variables, were examined. In the second study the experimental condition was varied by implementing 'coping' and 'helping' instructions, in addition to the original disclosure condition, with the goal of achieving - via activation of resources - even more pronounced effects. Results: In neither the first nor the second study could the expected beneficial effects of disclosure on long-term health measures (e.g., medical visits) be corroborated. The additional measures, essay variables and personality characteristics, explain virtually null variance in the outcome variables. Changes in parameters for stress reactions (e. g., intrusions) were found. These changes were particularly pronounced under activation of pro-social motivation (helping condition). Conclusions: Repeated, albeit brief, writing about past stressful events in an emotionally expressive manner does not lead to long-term positive health consequences. It seems, however, to promote better processing of stressful experience. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved)

Accession Number: 2004-17442-003. Translated Title: Self-disclosure when writing about stressful life events. Other Journal Title: Zeitschrift für Klinische Psychologie. Partial author list: First Author & Affiliation: Kröner-Herwig, Birgit; Klinische Psychologie und Psychotherapie, Universität Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. Release Date: 20050214. Correction Date: 20160222. Publication Type: Journal (0100), Peer Reviewed Journal (0110). Format Covered: Print. Document Type: Journal Article. Language: German. Major Descriptor: Emotions; Life Experiences; Self-Disclosure; Stress; Written Communication. Classification: Personality Traits & Processes (3120). Population: Human (10). Methodology: Empirical Study; Quantitative Study. References Available: Y. Page Count: 13. Issue Publication Date: 2004.