Impact of Expressive Writing on Breast Cancer Patients
Emotional Expression and Physical Well-Being
A study focusing on a Danish population of breast cancer patients examines how expressive writing can contribute to improved physical outcomes. Emotional expression is vital for physical well-being, and while research findings are mixed, some evidence suggests that repressive coping and emotional avoidance may lead to adverse outcomes for breast cancer patients. There is a pressing need to explore interventions that facilitate effective emotional processing, which could enhance the quality of life for breast cancer survivors and patients, as well as reduce treatment costs.
Study Overview
Recently, researchers investigated a nationwide sample of Danish women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. The study was published in the PLoS ONE journal on February 23, 2018. It compared the effects of an expressive writing intervention on self-reported symptoms and healthcare utilization among women versus a control group who wrote about neutral topics.
Methodology
The sample included 507 women who underwent surgical treatment (lumpectomy or mastectomy) within three weeks of their diagnosis with invasive breast cancer at stages I and II. After a preliminary questionnaire, participants were randomly assigned to two groups: 253 in the expressive writing group and 254 in the control group.
Research assistants contacted participants by telephone to engage them in writing for 20 minutes weekly over three weeks. Those in the expressive writing group were encouraged to explore their emotions regarding distressing or traumatic events, including their cancer experience or other personal challenges. In contrast, the control group focused on writing about daily activities in a neutral tone. The study also considered various moderating factors, including rumination, social constraints, repressive coping, and writing topic choice.
Results and Findings
The results revealed no significant differences between the expressive writing and control groups concerning disease treatment, demographic factors, moderating variables, or outcome measures. Findings from this large randomized trial indicate that expressive writing does not significantly affect health outcomes for cancer patients and survivors, consistent with earlier research. However, there was some indication that expressive writing may benefit patients who are more in tune with their emotions and specifically write about their cancer experiences. This potential connection warrants further investigation for conclusive outcomes.
Conclusion
The study underscores the complexity of emotional expression in relation to physical health outcomes for breast cancer patients. While expressive writing may not universally enhance health results, it could offer benefits in specific contexts that require additional exploration.
Reference
Jensen-Johansen, M. B., O’Toole, M. S., Christensen, S., Valdimarsdottir, H., Zakowski, S., Bovbjerg, D. H., … & Zachariae, R. (2018). Expressive writing intervention and self-reported physical health outcomes–Results from a nationwide randomized controlled trial with breast cancer patients. PloS ONE, 13(2), e0192729.