Honors Theses
Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Undergraduate Thesis
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
John Young
Relational Format
Dissertation/Thesis
Abstract
This is among the first studies to investigate the naturalistic use of expressive writing in college students. To do so, 255 undergraduate students from the University of Mississippi anonymously completed an online survey. Participants first answered basic demographic questions followed by questions assessing their sadness or depression, happiness, and overall adjustment in college. Next, participants responded to questions concerning expressive writing and ways in which they handled demands of college. Finally, respondents then completed a well-researched, standardized measure of depression, anxiety, and stress. Independent-samples t tests revealed that students who engaged in expressive writing demonstrated lower mean levels of sadness or depression on a single-item assessment in the college adjustment questions (but not on the standardized measure). Results also show that among those who endorsed a history of expressive writing, women were significantly more represented than men. No other significant differences were found, but future research may still benefit from including attention to base rates of expressive writing and gender differences in this behavior among college students.
Recommended Citation
Wilbanks, Grace Ann, "Analyzing the Use of Expressive Writing Among College Students" (2018). Honors Theses. 351.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/351
Accessibility Status
Searchable text