How effective are expressive writing interventions for adolescents? A meta-analytic review

Gabriele Travagin*, Davide Margola, A. Tracey Revenson

*Autore corrispondente per questo lavoro

Risultato della ricerca: Contributo in rivistaArticolopeer review

51 Citazioni (Scopus)

Abstract

This meta-analysis evaluated the effects of the expressive writing intervention (EW; Pennebaker & Beall, 1986) among adolescents. Twenty-one independent studies that assessed the efficacy of expressive writing on youth samples aged 10–18 years were collected and analyzed. Results indicated an overall mean g-effect size that was positive in direction but relatively small (0.127), as well as significant g-effect sizes ranging from 0.107 to 0.246 for the outcome domains of Emotional Distress, Problem Behavior, Social Adjustment, and School Participation. Few significant effects were found within specific outcome domains for putative moderator variables that included characteristics of the participants, intervention instructions, or research design. Studies involving adolescents with high levels of emotional problems at baseline reported larger effects on school performance. Studies that implemented a higher dosage intervention (i.e., greater number and, to some extent, greater spacing of sessions) reported larger effects on somatic complaints. Overall, the findings suggest that expressive writing tends to produce small yet significant improvements on adolescents' well-being. The findings highlight the importance of modifying the traditional expressive writing protocol to enhance its efficacy and reduce potential detrimental effects. At this stage of research the evidence on expressive writing as a viable intervention for adolescents is promising but not decisive.
Lingua originaleInglese
pagine (da-a)42-55
Numero di pagine14
RivistaClinical Psychology Review
Volume36
Numero di pubblicazioneN/A
DOI
Stato di pubblicazionePubblicato - 2015

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Psicologia Clinica
  • Psichiatria e Salute Mentale

Keywords

  • Adolescence
  • Expressive Writing (EW)
  • Meta-analysis
  • Self-regulation processes
  • Written emotional disclosure

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