Expressive writing promotes self‐reported physical,social and psychological health among Chinese undergraduates |
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Authors: | Zhihan Yang Xiaoqing Tang Wenjie Duan Yonghong Zhang |
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Institution: | 1. Center of Studies for Psychology and Social Development, Southwest University, Chongqing, China;2. School of Culture and Social Development Studies, Southwest University, Chongqing, China;3. Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China |
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Abstract: | The present study examines the efficacy of expressive writing among Chinese undergraduates. The sample comprised of 74 undergraduates enrolled in a 9‐week intervention (35 in experimental class vs. 39 in control class). The writing exercises were well‐embedded in an elective course for the two classes. The 46‐item simplified Chinese Self‐Rated Health Measurement Scale, which assesses psychological, physical and social health, was adopted to measure the outcome of this study. Baseline (second week) and post‐test (ninth week) scores were obtained during the classes. After the intervention on the eighth week, the self‐reported psychological, social and physical health of the experimental class improved. Psychological health obtained the maximum degree of improvement, followed by social and physical health. Furthermore, female participants gained more psychological improvement than males. These results demonstrated that the expressive writing approach could improve the physical, social and psychological health of Chinese undergraduates, and the method can be applied in university psychological consulting settings in Mainland China. |
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Keywords: | Expressive writing Social health Psychological health Physical health Intervention |
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