Implications of Tailoring Emotional Expression within an Expressive Writing Paradigm

This dissertation uses the theoretical perspective that both emotion and emotional processing theories could greatly enhance feedback messages given in a linguistic writing paradigm. The measurement of emotional expression is briefly reviewed along with the basic expressive writing paradigm, outcome of this expressive writing paradigm, and the tailoring literature. Reference is made to the single study (Owen, et al., 2011), which has utilized tailoring in an expressive writing paradigm; the present study is a modification of this original study. This dissertation used clinically minded feedback which utilized both emotion and emotional processing theory. For the experimental design, three tailoring conditions (linguistic tailoring based on word count [LIWC], tailoring based on selfreport measures [BEQ, CECS], and tailoring from a trained therapist) along with two control groups (standard expressive writing experimental and standard expressive writing control) were used. Specific health and mental health outcomes were examined after one month including healthcare utilization (# of visits to a healthcare provider), physical symptoms (PILL), emotional distress (OQ-45), and PTSD symptoms (PCL). A total of 26 participants completed the study, Repeated measures ANOVAs found no significant differences between conditions on emotional expression or decreases in physical and mental health. The nonsignificant findings are likely due to low sample sizes and insufficient power for that statistical analyses. The findings highlight the inconsistent findings in the literature surrounding expressive writing studies and outline the importance of adequate sample sizes, experimental design to reduce fraudulent users, and future directions including other measures of expression to include depth of processing.

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Psychology

Year

2013

Author dc:creator

• Hanson, Eric R.

Contributors dc:contributor

• Owen, Jason E.
• Bantum, Erin O'Carroll
• Boyd, Kendal C.
• Vermeersch, David A.

• Clinical Psychology
• Emotions; Emotions (Psychology);
• Emotional Expression
• Emotion Theory
• Emotional Processing Theory
• Model of Emotional Expressivity
• Linguistic Tailoring

Statement dc:rights

• This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Language dc:language

English

Repository record dc:identifier

https://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/124

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholarsrepository.llu.edu:etd-1123