Physical and psychological effects of written disclosure among sexual abuse survivors

Authors

Sonja V. Batten, University of Nevada, Reno
Victoria M. Follette, University of Nevada, Reno
Mandra L. Rasmussen Hall, University of Nevada, Reno
Kathleen M. Palm, University of Nevada, RenoFollow

Document Type

Article

Abstract

Although numerous studies demonstrate the efficacy of writing about stressful events on measures of participants' health, most studies have included psychologically and physically healthy participants. The purpose of the current study was to determine whether writing about stressful or traumatic events would have the same effect with participants who had experienced a significant trauma. The physical and psychological impact of writing about child sexual abuse (CSA) experiences or time management was examined in 61 women (mean age 35.0) who reported a CSA history. Participants completed biweekly telephone interviews for 12 weeks after writing, as well as 12-week follow-up questionnaires. The results indicate that writing about CSA history alone is not sufficient to provide psychological or physical health benefits. As these results diverge from the extant literature, possible reasons for these findings are discussed, along with implications for writing interventions with survivors of significant traumas.

Publication Title

Behavior Therapy

Publication Date

2002

Volume

33

Issue

1

First Page

107

Last Page

122

ISSN

0005-7894

DOI

10.1016/S0005-7894(02)80008-9

Repository Citation

Batten, Sonja V.; Follette, Victoria M.; Rasmussen Hall, Mandra L.; and Palm, Kathleen M., "Physical and psychological effects of written disclosure among sexual abuse survivors" (2002). Psychology. 606.
https://commons.clarku.edu/faculty_psychology/606