The Effects of Expressive Writing and Compassionate Letter Writing on Emotional Distress Intolerance
- Conditions
- Distress Intolerance
- Interventions
- Other: Expressive writing interventionOther: Control writing taskOther: Self-compassionate writing intervention
- Registration Number
- NCT05284578
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Waterloo
- Brief Summary
Perceived emotional distress intolerance is a transdiagnostic marker of psychopathology associated with psychological and interpersonal dysfunction, and the development of interventions for perceived emotional distress intolerance is of prime importance. One potential intervention is a behavioural experiment, i.e. a cognitive behaviour therapy technique where clients undergo an exercise designed to test a maladaptive belief, e.g., that negative emotions are unbearable, and adjust their belief to accommodate any disconfirmatory information that arises through the exercise. This study examines the effects of a one-session self-compassion writing behavioural experiment compared to a one-session expressive writing behavioural experiment on low perceived distress tolerance. Participants were recruited from the University of Waterloo and Prolific, and were randomly assigned to the self-compassion condition, expressive writing condition, or a control condition.
- Detailed Description
The study consisted of two online surveys. During the first survey, participants answered a set of questionnaires. Then, they were prompted to think of an upsetting situation and the associated unpleasant emotions, and they were then randomly assigned to a brief self-compassionate writing, expressive writing, or neutral writing task. They then answered a series of questionnaires immediately after completing the writing task. During the second survey, one week later, participants answered a brief set of questionnaires.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- COMPLETED
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 424
Not provided
- None
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Expressive writing intervention Expressive writing intervention Participants assigned to this intervention were asked to engage in one brief online expressive writing session, where they were asked to explore their deepest thoughts and emotions surrounding an upsetting situation through writing. Control writing task Control writing task Participants assigned to this condition were asked to engage in a neutral time management writing task. Self-compassionate writing intervention Self-compassionate writing intervention Participants assigned to this intervention were asked to engage in one brief online self-compassionate writing session, where they were asked to write about and experience their feelings from the perspective of an inner compassionate observer.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Compassionate Engagement and Action Scale Change from baseline to one week post-intervention Self-report questionnaire with 13 questions on a 10-point Likert scale (scored 1-10). Three questions are reverse-scored and not included in scoring. Total scores range from 10-100, with higher increase in score indicative of increased emotional engagement
Distress Tolerance Scale Change from baseline to one week post-intervention Self-report questionnaire with 15 questions on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5, with 4 subscales). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher increase in score indicative of increased perceived distress tolerance.
Distress Tolerance Scale (short form) Immediately post-intervention Self-report questionnaire with 4 questions on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Mean scores range from 1-5, with higher score indicative of greater perceived distress tolerance.
Endorsement and Discomfort Scale (adapted) One week post-intervention Self-report questionnaire with 10 questions on a 9-point Likert scale (scored 1-9). Total scores range from 10-90, with higher score indicative of greater acceptability of intervention.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Soothing affect measures (researcher-generated) - Adapted from the Serenity Subscale of the PANAS-X and the Safe/Warmth Positive Affect Subscale of the Types of Positive Affect Scale (TPAS) Immediately post-intervention (assessed as a mediator) Self-report questionnaire with 7 questions on a 5-point Likert scale (scored 1-5). Total scores range from 7-35, with higher score indicative of more soothing affect.
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Waterloo
🇨🇦Waterloo, Ontario, Canada