Which factors enhance willingness to engage in expressive writing?

Abstract

This study investigated expressive writing, methods of providing effective psychological support. People can promote self-efficacy in controlling their emotions and emotional quotient by writing down emotions and thoughts about stressful experiences. I investigated which factors influenced people’s willingness to engage in expressive writing—that is, how much people want to use or explore the benefits of expressive writing. A group-style questionnaire was administered on 361 undergraduate students. Results suggested that sensitivity to confront certain facts of their own experience, one of the subscales of the questionnaire, was related to willingness to engage in expressive writing. A t-test revealed that willingness to engage in expressive writing for the high-sensitivity group was lower than for the low-sensitivity group. A covariance structure analysis revealed that sensitivity had a negative impact, and positive thoughts and attitudes about expressive writing had a positive impact on willingness to engage in it. In conclusion, future studies should examine ways to decrease the negative impact of sensitivity to confront facts on willingness to engage in expressive writing. For example, one way might be to write only positive emotions and thoughts.