Written emotional expression: effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables.

@article{Smyth1998WrittenEE,
  title={Written emotional expression: effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables.},
  author={Joshua M. Smyth},
  journal={Journal of consulting and clinical psychology},
  year={1998},
  volume={66 1},
  pages={
          174-84
        }
}
  • J. Smyth
  • Published 1998
  • Psychology, Medicine
  • Journal of consulting and clinical psychology
A research synthesis was conducted to examine the relationship between a written emotional expression task and subsequent health. This writing task was found to lead to significantly improved health outcomes in healthy participants. Health was enhanced in 4 outcome types--reported physical health, psychological well-being, physiological functioning, and general functioning--but health behaviors were not influenced. Writing also increased immediate (pre- to postwriting) distress, which was… 
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