Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors

Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors: A Six-Week Randomized, Controlled Trial

This project evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention sought to reduce the physical effects of stress related to those issues that individuals cannot successfully communicate with anyone about. To do this, the investigators will be implementing a writing intervention over the course of the 6-week study. The investigators will be asking all participants to complete questionnaires over the course of the study period. The investigators are also asking participants to provide a small blood sample (from a fingerstick procedure) at two times during the study as well as saliva samples during that same time. The primary research question asks if this intervention procedure is effective. The investigators are evaluating total cholesterol, high sensitivity c-reactive protein, and cortisol.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Stress Disorder
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Expressive Writing

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 44
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • California
    • Santa Clara, California, United States, 95053
      • Santa Clara University, Health Center

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 65 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• 110 pounds in weight
• Ability to fast for 8 hours prior to laboratory visit
• Staff member at Santa Clara University
• Certain level of inclusionary pretest stress measure

Exclusion Criteria:

• Hepatitis
• Endocrine Disease
• Kidney or Liver Disease
• Cancer (in any form)
• Cushing's disorder
• Rheumatological disorders
• Respiratory Disorders
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Low blood pressure
• Heart or cardiovascular problems
• Chemotherapy
• Current use of alpha or beta blockers, steroids, or hormone replacements
• Pregnant and/or breastfeeding mothers

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Expressive Writing; Affectionate Writing Intervention for 20 minutes per day, 2 times per week, 6 weeks.	Other: Expressive Writing; Writing intervention for cognitive appraisal of stressor.
No Intervention: No writing; Control Group -- No writing

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Lipids from baseline	Lipid panel includes total cholesterol, High-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides.	Week 1 and Week 6
Change in high-sensitivity c-Reactive Protein from baseline		Week 1 and Week 6
Change in Cortisol Awakening Response from Baseline	Measurement of Salivary Cortisol (hydrocortisone, compound-F) as a maximum difference between awakening and 30 minutes after awakening.	Week 1 and Week 6

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Change in Perceived Global Stress over time	Psychological measure of stress	Week 1, Week 3, Week 6
Change in Organizational Stress over time	Psychological measure of stress as a function of organizational involvement.	Week 1, Week 3, Week 6
Change in Perception of Communication Restriction of Stressor over time	Restrictedness of a communicative stressor	Week 1, Week 3, Week 6

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Santa Clara University
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Justin P Boren, Ph.D., Santa Clara University

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Floyd, K., Boren, J. P., Hannawa, A. F., Hesse, C., McEwan, B., & Veksler, A. E. (2009). Kissing in marital and cohabiting relationships: Effects on blood lipids, stress, and relationship satisfaction. Western Journal of Communication, 73(2), 113 - 133. doi: 10.1080/10570310902856071

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: April 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2012

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: March 30, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 1, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): April 5, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): May 20, 2013
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: May 17, 2013
• Last Verified: May 1, 2013

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Trauma and Stressor Related Disorders; Stress Disorders, Traumatic
• Other Study ID Numbers: SCUIRB03282011-1