Who does expressive writing work for? Examination of alexithymia, splitting, and repressive coping style as moderators of the expressive writing paradigm.
OBJECTIVE
This paper examines the moderating influence of alexithymia, splitting, and repressive coping style in the expressive writing paradigm.


METHODS
Eighty-eight university students randomized to four weekly 20-minute expressive or neutral writing sessions, with 1-month follow-up.


RESULTS
Expressive writing was more beneficial for individuals scoring higher on alexithymia and splitting, but not repressive coping.


CONCLUSIONS
Future research should include personality measures in explorations of expressive writing to further understand the boundary conditions of the expressive writing paradigm.
Baikie
Karen A
KA
School of Psychiatry, University of New South Wales and Black Dog Institute, Sydney, Australia. k.baikie@unsw.edu.au
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000523:psychology*; D019260:Expressed Emotion; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D033262:Narration; D010551:Personality; D012094:Repression, Psychology; D014956:Writing