The unexpected impact of expressive writing on posttraumatic stress and growth in Chinese American breast cancer survivors

Objective: The present study examined the impact of expressive writing on reducing posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms (PTSS) and facilitating posttraumatic growth (PTG) in Chinese American breast cancer survivors. Method: Ninety-six women who had completed primary treatments for breast cancer were randomly assigned to a cancer experience facts condition, an emotional disclosure condition, or a self-regulation condition and wrote on three occasions over 3 weeks. Participants completed outcome assessments at baseline and 1, 3, and 6 months after the last writing session. Results: Surprisingly, results indicated that there was generally a small increase in PTSS (ESsg =.16) and a small decrease in PTG (ESsg = −.16) from baseline to the 6-month follow-up. Effect size comparisons and latent growth curve models also indicated that the cancer facts condition was generally associated with superior outcomes for both PTSS and PTG. Conclusions: These findings speak to the importance of examining whether interventions are equally efficacious in different cultures.