title: Deconstructing therapeutic mechanisms in cancer support groups: do we express more emotion when we tell stories or talk directly to each other?
abstract: Studies indicate that story-telling and emotional expression may be important therapeutic mechanisms. This study examined how they work together over 1 year of supportive-expressive group therapy (SET). Participants were 41 women randomized to SET. We coded emotional expression and story types (story vs. non-story) at the initial session, 4, 8, and 12 months. Women engaged in more storytelling in their initial than later sessions. In later sessions, women expressed significantly more emotion, specifically compassion and high-arousal positive affect. Direct communication (non-story) allowed more positive but also more defensive expression as women supported and challenged each other. Greater hostility in non-story and greater constrained anger during story were associated with increasing depression. Greater high-arousal positive affect in non-story and greater primary negative affect in story were associated with increasing social network size. These results inform clinicians about cues they might use to improve the effectiveness of cancer support groups.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary, 1331 29 St NW, Calgary, AB, T2N 4N2, Canada, rie.tamagawa@albertahealthservices.ca.
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tamagawa
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Theo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gravity
authors.forename: Karen Altree
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Piemme
authors.forename: Sue
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: DiMiceli
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Collie
authors.forename: Janine
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Giese-Davis
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000628:therapy*; D003142:Communication; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D033262:Narration; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group; D012657:Self-Help Groups; D012944:Social Support
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