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Structured journal writing for recovery from romantic relationship loss
(2000) Altrows, Kim Jessica; Hett, Geoffrey
This study investigated the effects of a structured journal writing intervention on 20 university students ( 18 females and 2 males, ages 20 to 30 years) who had experienced a breakup within the preceding 12 months. Writing occurred for six sessions over a period of 3 weeks. Experimental group participants (n = l 0) responded to questions aimed at eliciting an account of the breakup, with emphasis on emotional expression and cognitive re-appraisal of the loss. Control group participants (n = I 0) wrote about neutral topics. Pre- and post-test measures of self-esteem, self-concept, time orientation, inner-directedness, and capacity for intimacy were taken using the Self Description Questionnaire III and the Personal Orientation Inventory. Contrary to the hypotheses, no significant differences were found between groups at post-test. Post-hoc analyses revealed significant improvements in the experimental group in self-esteem, inner-directedness, Emotional Stability self concept, and Opposite Sex Peer Relations self-concept, while the control group improved in Opposite Sex Peer Relations self-concept only. Possible explanations for the findings are discussed and implications for future research are presented.