The health benefits of writing about positive experiences: The role of broadened cognition

This study tested the potential to elicit a broadened attentional focus through writing about a positive life experience and to derive health benefits from such writing. Participants (n = 38) wrote for 20 min each day for 3 consecutive days about either a positive life experience or a control topic....

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPsychology & health Vol. 24; no. 8; pp. 867 - 879
Main Authors Burton, Chad M., King, Laura A.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England Routledge 01.10.2009
Subjects
Adolescent
Adult
broaden-and-build
Cognition
Female
Health Status Indicators
Humans
Male
Negativism
physical health
Surveys and Questionnaires
Writing
written disclosure
Young Adult
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Summary:This study tested the potential to elicit a broadened attentional focus through writing about a positive life experience and to derive health benefits from such writing. Participants (n = 38) wrote for 20 min each day for 3 consecutive days about either a positive life experience or a control topic. Writing about positive experiences led to improved physical health (measured 4-6 weeks after writing) compared to control and higher levels of global cognitive focus after writing mediated this effect. Notably, while the positive writing condition was more broadened than control, positive affect was not responsible for this difference. Implications for disclosive writing and the broaden and build model are discussed.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
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ISSN:0887-0446
1476-8321
DOI:10.1080/08870440801989946