Effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking as well as anxiety and depression in new recruits

Gongjin CHEN; Li PENG; Zihao JIN; Aijun ZHAO; Xuanyun YAN; Bo LIU; Min LI

doi:10.16016/j.2097-0927.202312118

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Effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking as well as anxiety and depression in new recruits

Military Medicine | 更新时间：2026-01-09

- Effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking as well as anxiety and depression in new recruits
- Journal of Army Medical University Vol. 46, Issue 15, Pages: 1817-1824(2024)
- 作者机构：
  
  1.400038 重庆，陆军军医大学(第三军医大学)医学心理系军事心理学教研室
  2.545000 广西柳州，95275部队
- 作者简介：
- 基金信息：
  
  the General Project of National Social Science Foundation of China(19BSH132)
- DOI：10.16016/j.2097-0927.202312118
  CLC： R395.1;R395.6;R821.2
- Received：25 December 2023，
  
  Revised：2024-02-22，
  
  Published：15 August 2024
- 稿件说明：
移动端阅览
Gongjin CHEN, Li PENG, Zihao JIN, et al. Effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking as well as anxiety and depression in new recruits[J]. Journal of Army Medical University, 2024, 46(15): 1817-1824.
DOI：

Gongjin CHEN, Li PENG, Zihao JIN, et al. Effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking as well as anxiety and depression in new recruits[J]. Journal of Army Medical University, 2024, 46(15): 1817-1824. DOI： 10.16016/j.2097-0927.202312118.

摘要

目的

探讨表达性写作对新兵重复性消极思维(repetitive negative thinking

RNT)及焦虑、抑郁情绪的作用，并比较不同写作间隔对训练效果的影响。

方法

采用整群抽样法抽取某部队新兵262人，以连为单位将其分为3组，包括2个以RNT为中心的表达性写作组，训练时间分别为每周1次，连续6周(6周组，90人)和每天1次，连续6 d(6 d组，83人)，以及1个不进行任何干预的对照组(89人)。使用持续性思维问卷(Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire

PTQ)、抑郁自评量表(Self-Rating Depression Scale

SDS)和焦虑自评量表(Self-Rating Anxiety Scale

SAS)，在干预前(T

)、干预结束时(T

)和干预结束后1个月(T

)分别对3组进行评估。

结果

干预前3组之间人口统计学信息及各心理学指标差异均无统计学意义。干预后，6周组(T

、T

)的RNT、抑郁和焦虑得分相比基线(T

)均显著降低(

＜0.01)；6 d组的RNT、抑郁、焦虑得分呈现先升后降的趋势，RNT和抑郁得分T

时显著高于T

时(

＜0.01)，T

时三者均回落，其中抑郁和焦虑得分显著低于T

时(

＜0.01)；对照组各心理学指标训练前后均无显著变化。

结论

6周以RNT为中心的表达性写作可以降低新兵的RNT，并减少抑郁和焦虑情绪，而连续6 d的写作方案未观察到类似效果，推荐在新兵中使用6周写作干预以促进心理健康。

Abstract

Objective

To explore the effects of expressive writing on repetitive negative thinking (RNT) and anxiety and depression in new recruits

and to compare the effectiveness of different writing intervals on the training effects.

Methods

A total of 262 new recruits of a troop were sampled using cluster sampling and then divided into 3 groups based on their own organizational company. There were 2 groups receiving RNT-focused expressive writing

including 6-week group (

=90)

once a week for 6 consecutive weeks

and 6-day group (

=83) once a day for 6 consecutive days

as well as a control group without any intervention (control group

=89). Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (PTQ)

Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)

and Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) were used to survey all participants at following 3 time points: before intervention (T0)

at the end of intervention (T1) and 1 month after intervention (T2).

Results

There were

no significant differences in demographic information and psychological indicators among the 3 groups before the intervention. After intervention

the scores of RNT

depression

and anxiety were significantly lower in the 6-week group at T1 and T2 than the baseline levels (T0) (

0.01). The 6-day group showed a tendency of increasing and then decreasing in the 3 scores

the scores of RNT and depression were significantly higher at T1 than T0 (

0.01)

then all 3 scores fell back at T2

and the scores of depression and anxiety at T2 were significantly lower than at T0 (

0.01). No significant changes were observed in these psychological indicators in the control group before and after training.

Conclusion

RNT-focused expressive writing for 6 weeks can reduce RNT and relieve emotions such as depression and anxiety in new recruits

but similar effects are not observed in the 6-day consecutive writing program. So

we recommend a 6-week writing intervention to promote mental health in new recruits.

关键词

Keywords

references

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