Effect of Expressive Writing On The Subjective Well-Being of Univ
Effect of Expressive Writing On The Subjective Well-Being of Univ
Effect of Expressive Writing On The Subjective Well-Being of Univ
7-31-2021
Recommended Citation
Cayubit, R. F. (2021). Effect of Expressive Writing on the Subjective Well-Being of University Students.
Makara Human Behavior Studies in Asia, 25(1), 71-79. https://doi.org/10.7454/hubs.asia.1130520
This Original Research Article is brought to you for free and open access by UI Scholars Hub. It has been accepted
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eISSN: 2406-9183
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ABSTRACT
The main intent of this research is to test the effectiveness of expressive writing in
processing and dealing with inhibited emotions of university students. The use of
expressive writing targets the subjective well-being of the subjects, specifically their
happiness and life satisfaction. Employing a between-subjects design, a thorough
and rigorous psychological experiment was performed on 23 student volunteers
where expressive writing was designated as the independent variable and happiness
and life satisfaction as dependent variables respectively. Results of the non-
parametric analysis showed that after the experimentation, both the happiness and
life satisfaction of the subjects improved. Theoretical implications of the study are
discussed in this paper.
ABSTRAK
Original Article Tujuan utama dari penelitian ini adalah untuk mengukur tingkat efektifitas dan
*Correspondence Author: menulis secara ekspresif dalam hal memproses dan menghubungkan dengan
Ryan Francis O. Cayubit ungkapan emosi yang dipendam di antara mahasiswa di perguruan tinggi. Kegunaan
E-mail: rocayubit@ust.edu.ph
dari menulis secara ekspresif memiliki tujuan yang mengarah pada kesejahteraan
Received: 04 March 2020 diri secara khusus tentang kebahagiaan dan kepuasan hidup mereka. Penelitian ini
Revised: 04 April 2020
Accepted: 13 May 2020
menggunakan between subject design yakni sebuah proses psikologis yang ketat
dan menyeluruh yang dilakukan pada 23 mahasiswa yang secara sukarela
Keyword: expressive writing, well-being, mengambil bagian dari penelitian ini. Menulis ekspresif dalam penelitian ini
life satisfaction, happiness
merupakan variabel bebas sementara kebahagian dan kepuasan hidup adalah
Cite this article: Cayubit, R. F. O. (2021). variabel terikat. Hasil dari penelitian yang dianalisis dengan menggunakan non-
Effect of expressive writing on the
subjective well-being of university parametric menunjukan bahwa tingkat kebahagiaan dan kepuasan hidup
students. Makara Human Behavior menunjukan adanya peningkatan. Implikasi secara teori dari penelitian ini akan
Studies in Asia, 25(1), 71-79.
https://doi.org/10.7454/hubs.asia.1130520
dibahas secara luas dalam tulisan ini
multidimensional and is believed to be made up of 2017); regulation and use of emotions (Chen et al.,
pleasant and unpleasant affect, life satisfaction and 2018); self-esteem (Cha, 2003; Patel et al., 2018);
domain satisfaction (Diener et al., 1999). optimism (Cha, 2003); trait emotional intelligence (Liu
et al., 2013; Wong & Kong, 2014); positive perception
Happiness, a sub-division of the pleasant affect of daily events (McCullough et al., 2000) and coping
component of SWB, is an interesting construct in resources (Gnilka et al., 2015). Result also shows that it
positive psychology because it is a domain that is is negatively related to perceived stress (Alleyne et al.,
traditionally philosophical and theological in nature but 2010; Gnilka et al., 2015; Kaya et al., 2015; Puri et al.,
has been greatly influenced by the views and methods 2016); anxiety (Paschali & Tsitsas, 2010); and worry
of psychology over the years (Biswas-Diener et al., (Paolini et al., 2006). Considering these empirical
2004). Research on this construct deals with its nature, evidence, studying life satisfaction is an advantage not
effects and implications with the hopes of coming up only because of its documented effects but also because
with ways on how to either attain or enhance it. it possesses a unique importance in understanding a
Indicators of happiness include feelings of joy, number of mental health concerns of individuals (Kaya
satisfaction, cheerfulness, gladness and gratitude. Since et al., 2015) including university students.
it is perceived as important, many studies have been
conducted which shows that happy individuals are Given the importance and range of benefits of both
successful across different areas of their lives including happiness and life satisfaction, individuals often seek
marriage, friendship, income, work performance and psychotherapy as a means to increase or improve them
health (Lyubomirsky et al., 2005). Among students, (Johnson, 1991; Mallum, 1983; Paolini et al., 2006) but
evidence exists that happiness is positively linked to this may not be readily accessible to many college
academic performance (Sahi, 2018; Seligman et al., students because of the lack of financial resources. The
2009) and self-confidence (Cheng & Fumham, 2002). use of expressive writing could address this issue as it is
Past studies also shows that happiness is related to seen as one of the most cost-effective ways to handle
having positive relationships and experiences (Camfield personal issues and concerns (Wong & Mak, 2016).
et al., 2009; Lu, 1999; Peterson, 2006); friendships This is evident in the reported overall effect size of .47
(Demir et al., 2012); capitalization (Demir et al., 2013; when expressive writing was used to improve the
Gable & Reis, 2010); gratitude (Emmons & health, psychological well-being and general
McCullough, 2003; Kausar, 2018; Watkins et al., 2003; functioning of individuals (Smyth, 1998). Expressive
Sheldon & Lyubomirsky, 2006; Toepfer et al., 2012; writing has become popular because it provides
Toepfer & Walker, 2009); autonomy and attribution individuals a safe context to deal with their feelings and
style (O’Donnell et al., 2013) and emotional intelligence emotions (Frattaroli, 2006; Greenberg & Lepore, 2004;
(Mukherjee, 2018). Finally, it has been found that Greenberg et al., 2002) and through expressive writing,
happy people tend to be more sociable, optimistic, SWB is enhanced because it provides opportunities for
energetic, original and altruistic (Norish & Vella- self-disclosure (Ko & Kuo, 2009) as individuals narrate
Brodrick, 2008). their feelings and emotions through writing. Aside from
an improved SWB, expressive writing is also associated
Life satisfaction on the other hand is the cognitive with improved emotional intelligence and emotional
aspect of subjective well-being that involves the self-efficacy (Kirk, Schutte, & hine, 2011); emotional
judgmental process a person engages in to overall assess regulation (Suhr et al., 2017; Wing et al., 2006);
one’s life based on a chosen criteria (Diener et al., 1985; adjustment and social engagement (Kim, 2008); life
Pavot & Diener, 1993). The judgment is brought about satisfaction, mental and physical health (Lyubomirsky
by a comparison between one’s current state with what et al., 2006); meaning making through self-distancing
is perceived as something acceptable or a known (Park et al., 2016); psychological well-being (Barclay &
standard. The comparison is done to evaluate one’s life Skarlicki, 2009); retirement well-being (Round &
satisfaction and is not externally imposed. It centers on Burke, 2018) and improved GPA, working memory and
the person’s own judgment and not upon some criterion better college adjustment (Dalton & Glenwick, 2009).
set by others (Diener, 1984). As a result of the Other benefits include reduced depressive symptoms
comparison, individuals become highly satisfied if they (Suhr et al., 2017); posttraumatic symptoms (Lange-
find out that the difference between their current life Nielsen et al., 2012) and psychological distress (Wong
state and the standard is low. On the other hand, & Rochlen, 2009). Given these benefits, using
dissatisfaction occurs if the difference is high. Through expressive writing as a cost-effective way to promote,
the years, life satisfaction has been associated with a develop or enhance happiness and life satisfaction
range of outcomes that are both positive and negative. among university students may prove to be beneficial
Studies show that among college students, life not only for students but for educational institutions as
satisfaction is strongly related to grade scores and well. With the abundance of literature and empirical
academic efficiency (Lodi et al., 2017); attitude towards evidence on its therapeutic potential, one cannot help
money (Barand & Imanian, 2017); resilience (Rathore, but wonder what is in writing that makes it effective. I
Table 1. Happiness and life satisfaction of the subjects before and after the experiment
Expressive writing condition Control group
Pretest Posttest Pretest Posttest
M (SD) M (SD) M (SD) M (SD)
Happiness 105.45 (8.20) 110.91 (8.03) 113.58 (9.76) 114.83 (11.61)
Life satisfaction 20.27 (5.78) 24.91 (5.41) 23.00 (6.20) 20.33 (6.39)
and rejected by others, the result of which is a more inhibited emotions cannot be denied and educational
honest evaluation of their lives and situations, improved institutions through its counselors, psychologists and
life satisfaction and a more sound SWB. Similar to other mental health professionals may opt to consider its
happiness, life satisfaction is also crucial not only use in handling appropriate student cases.
because of its ability to predict positive outcomes, as
provided by literature, but also because of the role it References
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