Recent NSF-sponsored experiments indicate that when people talk or write about upsetting experiences in their lives, they become physically and mentally healthier. For example, individuals who write about personal traumas for four consecutive days for twenty minutes a day evidence improved immune system activity, reduced physician visits over a 2-4 month interval, and report being happier and healthier than those who are asked to write about superficial topics. The purpose of the present grant is to understand why writing or talking produces such beneficial effects. Over the three years of research, a series of experiments will explore which dimensions of writing promote health. Writing about traumas, for example, may be beneficial because it organizes the events in people's minds, changes the ways that people think about the traumas, or perhaps fulfills basic human needs for self-expression. By pinpointing the health-promoting dimensions of writing, researchers will better understand the mental processes underlying stressful events and coping. The results also have important implications for studying psychotherapy and interpersonal relationships.
