Abstract
This randomized controlled trial was the first to compare turning-point writing, expressive writing, and a control condition for physical health using wearable devices and self-reported well-being. A total of 89 U.S. emerging adults (aged 18-25) completed a writing prompt online (2-3 times). Six weeks later, controlling for baseline, turning-point participants reported fewer depressive symptoms compared to control and lower stress compared to expressive writing and control. Overall, expressive writing did not improve physical or mental health and turning-point writing did not enhance well-being compared to other methods. Mediation analyses showed that across both experimental conditions, greater use of insight words was linked to physical health and causal words to mental health. Yet, positive tone was linked to poorer sleep, and longer narratives were linked to fewer physical symptoms but shorter sleep and lower well-being. These findings suggest that writing about difficult experiences affects health and well-being in complex ways.
General Audience Summary: This study compared the effectiveness of two well-established writing methods for young adults' (18-25 years old) physical and mental health and well-being. Eighty-nine online U.S. participants reported their baseline physical and mental health and well-being before being assigned to one of three writing conditions. The turning-point task prompted writing about a life-changing event, and the expressive writing task prompted writing about an emotionally charged event, while the control task prompted writing about the previous day's activities. Participants repeated these writing tasks at least 2-3 times over several days and completed a follow-up measurement of health and well-being 6 weeks later. Our findings showed lower levels of depressive symptoms in young adults who completed the turning-point writing compared to controls. Turning-point participants also indicated lower levels of stress symptoms compared to the expressive writing condition and controls. Language use patterns highlighted the contribution of insight words to physical health (lower physical symptoms) for both experimental conditions and causal words to mental health (lower anxiety and stress symptoms), especially for expressive writing. Yet, positive tone was associated with lower sleep scores in both experimental conditions; longer narratives were associated with fewer physical symptoms but shorter sleep and less posttraumatic growth, especially for expressive writing. These findings illustrate the nuanced effects of writing about significant events for physical health, mental health, and well-being, with practical implications for practitioners and the general public.