NCJ Number
203530
Journal
Alcoholism Treatment Quarterly Volume: 21 Issue: 4 Dated: 2003 Pages: 55-66
Editor(s)
Thomas F. McGovern Ed.D
Date Published
2003
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study assessed the effects of an emotional disclosure writing task on the physical and psychological functioning of children of alcoholics.
Abstract
Prior research has systematically examined the ways in which writing about thoughts and feelings regarding personally stressful or traumatic experiences can influence mental and physical health. This study investigated the effects of an emotional disclosure writing task on 53 self-identified children of alcoholics between the ages of 10 and 17 to assess the extent to which writing about their thoughts and feelings influenced areas of physical and psychological functioning and to examine the extent to which writing can be effective in allowing children of alcoholics to confront, understand, and resolve issues that have been stressful. It was hypothesized that the participants in the emotional writing group would evidence the greatest improvement over time and that participants in the same group would show gradual cognitive assimilation and understanding of the events they wrote about. Results supported the second hypothesis but not the first. A general improvement in selective areas of physical and psychological functioning was seen across all groups. It was also observed that participants in the emotional writing group made use of more cognitive, insight, and causal related words. The results showed an overall reduction and general improvement in both physical and psychological symptoms across the entire sample, especially evident with respect to negative affect, internalizing symptoms, and physical symptoms. Future research is recommended in examining child coping mechanisms. References