November 2020 PMID 33240180

Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Maša Vukčević Marković, Jovana Bjekić, Stefan Priebe

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Mentions

11
Peak: 6 in Nov 2020
across 2 sources since Nov 2020

Extended reach

49,734
potential audience

Total likes

10

Video views

5

Mentions per month

Nov 2020 – Sep 2025

Where it's discussed

  • X / Twitter10 posts
  • YouTube1 videos

AI synopsis

What people are saying

Many discussions emphasize the negative effects of expressive writing, with phrases like 'bad effects' and warnings such as 'beware,' indicating strong disagreement and concern. The tone is cautionary, which contributes to the overall perception that this intervention is ineffective or harmful during the pandemic, reducing overall interest and perceived impact.

AgreementStrong disagreement

All discussions express strong disagreement with the idea that expressive writing is beneficial during COVID-19, highlighting negative or ineffective outcomes.

InterestNeutral interest

The discussions show neutral interest, primarily emphasizing warnings or concerns rather than curiosity or exploration of alternative approaches.

EngagementModerate engagement

Comments reflect some engagement through referencing specific findings and calling attention to potential risks, but lack deep analysis or nuanced debate.

ImpactLow impact

The collective tone suggests the publication's findings have limited positive impact, instead raising caution and skepticism about expressive writing as a mental health tool in this context.

Abstract in brief

  • The study tested whether online expressive writing (EW) could help reduce psychological distress during the COVID-19 pandemic by comparing an intervention group (who did five EW sessions) with a control group receiving usual treatment, measuring outcomes at baseline, posttreatment, and one-month follow-up.
  • Results showed that the intervention group experienced increased stress and did not improve more than the control group in terms of depression, anxiety, wellbeing, or quality of life, indicating that EW was not effective in reducing psychological distress in this context.
  • Further analysis suggested that factors like baseline distress levels influenced the outcomes, but overall, the online EW intervention did not produce significant benefits, and stress levels actually increased in the treatment group after the sessions.

Top posts

Most liked on X and Bluesky
Social Psychiatry
@QMULSocialPsych · X

NEW PAPER: An RCT - carried out during the #pandemic - has found that expressive writing was associated with increased levels of psychological distress✍️Could it be that in #COVID times, interventions that are usually helpful have become ineffective? https://t.co/9A10TwpIl2 https://t.co/le8TKPjTAt

Nov 10, 2020 · 5 likes · 3 shares · 2,389 followers View post →
Atle Dyregrov
@Dyregrov · X

Beware, beware. Maybe writing is not such a good idea in relation to COVID-19? Frontiers | Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial | Psychology https://t.co/vDgMR5rOQz

Nov 24, 2020 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 3,483 followers View post →
Lyman Stone 石來民
@lymanstoneky · X

This paper found that expressive writing had bad effects for people dealing with long COVID: https://t.co/y8uMVTu84k

Jun 22, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 37,163 followers View post →
Dr Nicola Jane Holt
@Creativepsyche · X

https://t.co/e97XZkqRvJ

Feb 2, 2021 · 1,758 followers View post →
Dr Nicola Jane Holt
@Creativepsyche · X

RT @QMULSocialPsych: NEW PAPER: An RCT - carried out during the #pandemic - has found that expressive writing was associated with increased…

Nov 10, 2020 · 3 shares · 1,758 followers View post →
helen mackie
@damson29 · X

RT @Dyregrov: Beware, beware. Maybe writing is not such a good idea in relation to COVID-19? Frontiers | Effectiveness of Expressive Writin…

Nov 24, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,361 followers View post →

All mentions

Peter Robinson
@PeterRobinsonMD · X

RT @lymanstoneky: This paper found that expressive writing had bad effects for people dealing with long COVID: https://t.co/y8uMVTu84k

Jun 22, 2023 · 1 share · 319 followers View post →
Lyman Stone 石來民
@lymanstoneky · X

This paper found that expressive writing had bad effects for people dealing with long COVID: https://t.co/y8uMVTu84k

Jun 22, 2023 · 2 likes · 1 share · 37,163 followers View post →
Catarina Furmark - barn & familjepsykolog
@BarnPsykologen · X

RT @Dyregrov: Beware, beware. Maybe writing is not such a good idea in relation to COVID-19? Frontiers | Effectiveness of Expressive Writin…

Feb 8, 2021 · 2 shares · 601 followers View post →
Dr Nicola Jane Holt
@Creativepsyche · X

https://t.co/e97XZkqRvJ

Feb 2, 2021 · 1,758 followers View post →
PsychiatryAI.com
@PsychiatryAIcom · X

Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://t.co/bDx1sYHk0P

Nov 27, 2020 · 435 followers View post →
PsychiatryAI.com
@PsychiatryAIcom · X

Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial. https://t.co/BlAc3CAaat

Nov 27, 2020 · 435 followers View post →
helen mackie
@damson29 · X

RT @Dyregrov: Beware, beware. Maybe writing is not such a good idea in relation to COVID-19? Frontiers | Effectiveness of Expressive Writin…

Nov 24, 2020 · 2 shares · 1,361 followers View post →
Atle Dyregrov
@Dyregrov · X

Beware, beware. Maybe writing is not such a good idea in relation to COVID-19? Frontiers | Effectiveness of Expressive Writing in the Reduction of Psychological Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Randomized Controlled Trial | Psychology https://t.co/vDgMR5rOQz

Nov 24, 2020 · 3 likes · 2 shares · 3,483 followers View post →
Dr Nicola Jane Holt
@Creativepsyche · X

RT @QMULSocialPsych: NEW PAPER: An RCT - carried out during the #pandemic - has found that expressive writing was associated with increased…

Nov 10, 2020 · 3 shares · 1,758 followers View post →
Social Psychiatry
@QMULSocialPsych · X

NEW PAPER: An RCT - carried out during the #pandemic - has found that expressive writing was associated with increased levels of psychological distress✍️Could it be that in #COVID times, interventions that are usually helpful have become ineffective? https://t.co/9A10TwpIl2 https://t.co/le8TKPjTAt

Nov 10, 2020 · 5 likes · 3 shares · 2,389 followers View post →