Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Unveiling Mechanisms of Stress Resilience - Significant Findings, Advancements, and Future Research
Published on: December 15, 2023
A randomized controlled trial comparing the effects of self-reflective writing focused on successful and unsuccessful
Kirsten J Bucknell1, Maria Kangas2, Eyal Karin1
1School of Psychological Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales, Australia.
Abstract:
Evidence supports the effectiveness of self-reflective training approaches for the development of resilience. Building this work, the objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the focus of coping self-reflective activities on resilience by applying a self-reflection approach to a sample of 254 Australian ministry workers. This randomized controlled trial included three attention-matched conditions: (1) self-reflective writing focused on successful coping, (2) self-reflective writing focused on unsuccessful coping or (3) written descriptions of stressor events alone. Participants were assessed across four time points: prior to, immediately post, 3-months, and 6-months after the intervention. Results demonstrated that self-reflective writing was more effective in enhancing perceived resilience than descriptive writing. Analyses also showed greater maintenance of beneficial effects in the successful self-reflection condition, compared to the unsuccessful condition. These findings support the use of self-reflection training to strengthen individuals' psychological resilience, particularly when focused on successful coping situations for those who initially experience more ruminative thought.
More Related Videos
12:22Mindfulness in Motion MIM: An Onsite Mindfulness Based Intervention MBI for Chronically High Stress Work Environments to Increase Resiliency and Work Engagement
Published on: July 1, 2015
07:40Validation of a Psychosocial Intervention on Body Image in Older People: An Experimental Design
Published on: May 31, 2021
Related Concept Videos
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques I
Conscientiousness
Conscientious individuals tend to be organized, responsible, and disciplined. They prioritize completing tasks and following structured routines,...
Self-Presentation: Self-Monitoring and Self-Handicapping
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Stress Prevention and Stress Management Techniques VI
Motivation and Self-Determination
Motivation, the driving force behind behavior, plays a pivotal role at every stage of the change process. The research...
Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
The Scientific Method