How effective are expressive writing interventions for adolescents? A meta-analytic review.
Level 1 - systematic review of randomized trials
Systematic review and meta-analysis of 21 independent intervention studies.
PubMed 25656314 · doi:10.1016/j.cpr.2015.01.003
What was done
The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 21 independent studies evaluating the efficacy of expressive writing interventions among youth samples aged 10 to 18 years. Outcomes evaluated included emotional distress, problem behavior, social adjustment, school participation, and somatic complaints, alongside moderator variables such as participant baseline characteristics, intervention dosage, instructions, and study design.
What was found
The overall mean effect size across studies was small but positive (g = 0.127). Significant g-effect sizes ranged from 0.107 to 0.246 across emotional distress, problem behavior, social adjustment, and school participation. Few moderators were statistically significant, though larger effects on school performance appeared in adolescents with higher baseline emotional problems, and higher-dosage interventions (more sessions and greater session spacing) yielded larger effects on somatic complaints.
Why it matters
This review shows that expressive writing yields modest psychological and behavioral benefits for adolescents. It indicates that traditional expressive writing protocols may require age-specific modifications to enhance efficacy and avoid potential detrimental effects.
Limits
The abstract does not state the total participant count (N), risk of bias or trial quality of the included studies, or specific control conditions used. Confidence intervals and measures of statistical heterogeneity are omitted from the abstract.
Cited by
- supports Writing down thoughts aids emotion regulation and motivation.