An interventional study of expressive writing in Negative Emotions and Self Cognition, sponsored by Shandong University. Completed at 1 site in China. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 24 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-09-23.
Sponsored by Shandong University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Other
This study aims to improve college students' mental health through expressive writing. Over the next eight weeks, I would like you to write about some of the experiences that have had the greatest impact on your life. These may be positive or negative, and may relate to the present, past, or future. As you write, you may describe the event from both positive and negative perspectives. We encourage you to genuinely explore your deepest emotions and thoughts. Whatever you choose to write about, the crucial point is that you truly delve into your innermost feelings and reflections. You may relate your experiences to anyone in your life, including your parents, friends, and relatives. We hope you will endeavour to write about significant experiences you have never discussed in detail with others. During your writing, do not concern yourself with linguistic expression. We wish for you to convey your deepest emotions and thoughts as fully as possible. The content of your writing will not influence our perception of you; it is held in absolute confidence and security. The sole rule for this writing session is that once you begin writing, you must continue until the time concludes (each session is timed for 20-25 minutes). After the writing period ends, you may choose whether to submit your written text.
Shandong University is the lead sponsor of 284 studies on the registry; 59 are open to participants now.
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The intervention with EW on participants followed the design of Pennebaker and Beall (1986) with adjusted writing tasks based on Tolcher et al. (2024). Lasting for 40 days, it included four rounds of writing with a detached vantage point-one month, three months, and six months after the intervention Each of the four rounds consisted of three consecutive days of writing followed by a gap week. On each day, they were asked to write continuously for 20-25 minutes about her life experiences that had a significant impact on her, either positively or negatively. After writing on the third day of each round, they responded to the BDI-II and answered interview questions about their emotional state and self-cognition.
Other: expressive writing
Each of the four rounds consisted of three consecutive days of writing followed by a gap week.
self cognition
Additionally, to assess changes at cognitive levels, we separately recorded and compared the items related to self-cognition (7 items) within the BDI-II. The specific determination rules were as follows:the direction of score change at the item level served as the basis for judgement. Within a given assessment interval, we compared the number of items that decreased (indicating improvement) with those that increased (indicating deterioration). If decreases outnumbered increases, we classified the interval as improvement-predominant; otherwise, deterioration predominated. If the two were comparable, the change was recorded as insignificant. Accordingly, we sequentially compared items across the self cognition dimensions in the nine assessments, thereby revealing the immediate and sustained manifestations of expressive writing at both cognitive levels. Besides, the cognitive words and self cognition related sentences in interview were also analysis as the evidences for self cognition.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of study at one year.
negative emotion and positive emotion
we separately recorded and compared the items related to emotional state (5 items) The specific determination rules were as follows: the direction of score change at the item level served as the basis for judgement. Within a given assessment interval, we compared the number of items that decreased (indicating improvement) with those that increased (indicating deterioration). If decreases outnumbered increases, we classified the interval as improvement-predominant; otherwise, deterioration predominated. If the two were comparable, the change was recorded as insignificant. Accordingly, we sequentially compared items across the negtaive emotion and positive emotion dimensions in the nine assessments, thereby revealing the immediate and sustained manifestations of expressive writing at both emotional levels. Besides, the emotional words used in the writing texts and emotional related senteneces in semi-strcutured interview also analysis as the evidences for positive and negtaive emotion.
Time frame: From enrollment to the end of study at one year
Plan to share: Undecided — The datasets generated and analyzed during the current study contain potentially identifiable information about research participants. As explicit consent for public data release was not obtained from participants, the raw data cannot be made publicly available to protect their privacy. Requests for access to de-identified data (where permissible) may be directed to the corresponding author and will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis in accordance with ethical guidelines
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This study is completed, as verified in Sep 2025. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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Shandong University