Written emotional expression and religion: effects on PTSD symptoms

Previous research has found an association between writing about traumatic events and well-being. This study examined the effects of taking a religious perspective during a trauma-writing exercise.

Participants included 177 college students who were assigned randomly to either a conventional trauma writing or a religious trauma writing condition. Participants in the conventional writing condition were instructed to write about a traumatic experience, while participants in the religious writing condition were instructed to write about the trauma from a religious/spiritual perspective. Well-being was assessed by symptoms of PTSD at one-month follow-up.

Writing condition was found to interact with trauma severity and gender to affect PTSD symptoms at follow-up. Conventional writing was more effective (in reducing PTSD symptoms) for participants reporting lower trauma severity than for those who reported higher trauma severity. Effects of religious writing on PTSD symptoms were not influenced by trauma severity. Also, women benefited more from religious writing than men did with regard to reductions in PTSD symptoms.

It appears possible to adapt the conventional written emotional expression procedure in a way that encourages individuals to take a religious perspective, thereby augmenting effects on distress. These findings support further investigation of integrating religion into trauma interventions, particularly for individuals exposed to highly traumatic events.