Written Emotional Disclosure Paradigm: Effects on Posttraumatic Stress Symtoms and Posttraumatic Growth among Spouses of Cancer Patients

Acar D., Dirik G.

KLINIK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY, cilt.21, sa.2, ss.154-167, 2018 (ESCI) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 21 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2018
  • Doi Numarası: 10.5505/kpd.2018.48343
  • Dergi Adı: KLINIK PSIKIYATRI DERGISI-TURKISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRY
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), Scopus, TR DİZİN (ULAKBİM)
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.154-167
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Written emotional disclosure, posttraumatic stress, posttraumatic growth, cancer, spouses of cancer patients, EXPRESSIVE WRITING INTERVENTION, CONTROLLED-TRIAL, RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS, HEALTH-BENEFITS, PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTRESS, DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS, FAMILY CAREGIVERS, SOCIAL SUPPORT, TRAUMA, ADOLESCENTS
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Objective: The aim of this study was to test the effects of written emotional disclosure paradigm which is an pro-per intervention method for traumatic situations on posttraumatic stress symptoms and posttraumatic growth among spouses of cancer patients. Method: A total of 50 spouses (35 women, 15 men) of patients who are within more than 6 months of cancer diagnosis and admitted Uludag University Faculty of Medicine Medical Oncology Department were included in this study. Participants age ranged from 37 to 70 (M=53.66, SD=7.69). Participants were randomly assigned to one of the three conditions to write during 15-min sessions in 4 consecutive days: positive, negative and negative + positive (mixed) written emotional disclosure. Sociodemographic Information Form; before the first writing session, after the fourth writing session and 1 month later Impact of Event Scale-Revised and Posttraumatic Growth Inventory were administered to all participants. Results: Results of the study showed that written emotional disclosure had no significant effect on traumatic symptoms and posttraumatic growth. However, there was a time-dependent increase on posttraumatic growth total score and 'changes in relationship with others' and 'changes in philosophy of life sub-scales from pre-writing to post-writing. Discussion: The increase observed in posttraumatic growth from prewriting to post-writing suggests that this intervention may be important for preventive health services.