“A problem shared is a problem halved” is a proverbial saying well-known to all. But what does the science say about true life storytelling? And why does it make us feel better?
In this blog, we take a look at what the research has uncovered when it comes to true life storytelling, and how it can have a positive effect on both physical and mental wellbeing.
The impact of true life storytelling has been studied by modern psychologists, with striking results. A range of benefits have been uncovered since 1986, when psychologists started carrying out a range of ‘expressive writing’ studies to analyse the impact of true life storytelling on human health. Typically, this involves the comparison of participants writing about either deeply emotional experiences or neutral topics free of emotion. For example, an exploration of the feelings surrounding a life-altering event, compared to describing a place visited or an outfit worn.
In most instances, participants are asked to write for 15 to 20 minutes on between three and five occasions, often over consecutive days. Studies have taken place both within laboratories and from home environments. Many of which report on improved physical and mental health in participants that write about expressive events, compared to those who write about neutral events.
Psychologists have been exploring the impact of storytelling on the human psyche for decades.
What do the results show?
So far, a range of impacts have been uncovered. These impact humans both physically and emotionally, in a range of different ways.
Immediate vs long-term effects
For many, the process of writing about true-life events can lead to a short-term increase in negative emotions. Whilst for some people there can be an initial release, like a weight has been lifted from their shoulders, for people writing about traumatic events there may be increased levels of emotional distress.
However, studies show that over time, there are significant health benefits to be gained. With longer-term follow ups (several months after the writing exercise took place), there is often both an objectively assessed and self-reported improvement in both physical and mental health.
Emotional Health
The long-term impact of writing about life experiences tend to show a general feeling of greater psychological wellbeing, a reduction in symptoms of depression and less post-traumatic intrusion and avoidance symptoms. The latter suggests that overwhelming emotions attached to traumatic events are more easily managed.
For population members deemed physically and psychologically healthy, studies have shown that the effects produced by expressive writing are similar to the effects of other psychological interventions. For psychiatric population members, the results were less significant, but still positive.
The long-term impact of writing about life experiences tend to show a general feeling of greater psychological wellbeing.
Physical health
Long-term physical health outcomes show that those who took part in expressive writing exercises are less likely to visit the doctor than prior to the exercise. More specific positive effects were seen in relation to blood pressure, lung function, liver function and time spent in hospital. There were also a number of cases where improved immune system functioning was seen. Not only were these outcomes objectively observed; participants claimed the same things whilst also reporting less physical discomfort or symptoms.
Employment and education
Over time, studies have shown an improvement in students’ academic performance, reduced absenteeism from work, improved memory function and higher rates of re-employment following job loss. There is also a recorded improvement in sporting performance. Improved employment and education outcomes are thought to have been in part due to emotional topics changing the way participants interacted with others. This suggests an impact on social and linguistic behaviours.
Studies have shown improved employment and education outcomes for those who took part in expressive writing exercises.
Sharing stories
Whilst constructing a narrative around an emotional life event has shown to impact positively on both physical and mental wellbeing, the disclosure of such events can in some cases lead to cathartic benefits. Typically, this involves sharing the story on a private level, for example through talking therapies or sharing with close friends and relations. However, group narrative sharing is beginning to inform UK health policy, through the implementation of recovery colleges. The aim is to create an environment of experience-sharing through the normalisation of mental health difficulties, with storytelling at its centre.
Conclusion
There is plenty of further scope for research on expressive writing and storytelling both in a public and private setting. However, the science so far offers promising results, and somewhat of an explanation into how and why true life storytelling can improve physical and mental health. At Stozzys, we encourage anonymous posting as a means to explore these benefits, whilst also sharing what could be deemed as useful advice and information (or reassurance) by others who may be experiencing similar things. Of our own contributors, we have received overwhelmingly positive feedback and we continue to grow a repository of inspiring and informative true life stories.
Words by Lydia Paleschi
References
Baikie, K. and Wilhelm, K. 2018. Trauma and the Benefits of Writing About It. Advances in Psychiatric Treatment 11(5).
Cameron, L. D. and Nicholls, G. 1998. Expression of stressful experiences through writing: Effects of a self-regulation manipulation for pessimists and optimists. Health Psychology 17(1). 84–92.
Francis M.E. and Pennebaker J.W. 1992. Putting Stress into Words: The Impact of Writing on Physiological, Absentee, and Self-Reported Emotional Well-Being Measures. American Journal of Health Promotion 6(4). 280-287.
Frattaroli, J. 2006. Experimental disclosure and its moderators: a meta-analysis. Psychol. Bull. 132(6). 823-65.
Frisina, P. G., Borod, J. C. and Lepore, S. J. 2004. A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Written Emotional Disclosure on the Health Outcomes of Clinical Populations. The Journal of Nervous and Mental Disease 192 (9). 629-634.
Klein, K. and Boals, A. 2001. Expressive writing can increase working memory capacity. Journal of Experimental Psychology: General 130(3). 520–533
Lepore, S. J. 1997. Expressive writing moderates the relation between intrusive thoughts and depressive symptoms. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 73(5). 1030–1037.
Lepore, S. J. and Smyth, J. M. 2002. The writing cure: How expressive writing promotes health and emotional well-being. American Psychological Association.
Norman, S. A. et al. 2004. For Whom Does It Work? Moderators of the Effects of Written Emotional Disclosure in a Randomized Trial Among Women With Chronic Pelvic Pain. Psychosomatic Medicine 66(2). 174-183
Nurser, K. et al. 2018. Personal storytelling in mental health recovery. Mental Health Review Journal 23.
Park, C. and Blumberg, C. 2002. Disclosing Trauma Through Writing: Testing the Meaning-Making Hypothesis. Cognitive Therapy and Research 26. 597–616.
Psychology Today. 2009. Trauma and the Benefits of Writing About It
Scott, V. B. et al. 2003. Emotive writing moderates the relationship between mood awareness and athletic performance in collegiate tennis players. North American Journal of Psychology 5(2). 311–324.
Smyth, J. M. 1998. Written emotional expression: Effect sizes, outcome types, and moderating variables. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology 66(1). 174–184
Smyth, J.M. et al. 1999. Effects of Writing About Stressful Experiences on Symptom Reduction in Patients With Asthma or Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Randomized Trial. JAMA 281(14). 1304–1309.
Spera, S.P. et al. 2017. Expressive Writing and Coping with Job Loss. Academy of Management Journal 37(3)
If you would like to share your true life story, you can do so via the share stories page.
Alternatively, you can explore the Stozzys true life story repository via the read stories page.