Semiotics

Language, Emotion, and Health 79

Note. diff=difference score between the writing days (Day2–Day1). sum=weighted mean across the
writing days (Day1+Day2). SUDSpk=subjective units of distress, peak score. maxHRd=difference
in maximum level of heart rate from baseline. Dr2m=frequency of doctor‘s visit within 2 months
post writing. Dr12m=frequency of doctor‘s visit post writing, two months to a year. p<.05,
p<.01, p<.001.

Figure 4a. Study 1, partial correlations, between outcome measures and global variables of SSWC
(Sundararajan-Schubert Word Count), for (top) Control and (bottom) Expressive Writing groups.

As shown in Figure 4a, weighted mean across writing days had no significant correlations
with outcome measures for both groups. However, for the Control group only, change scores
between the writing days were positively correlated with the frequency of health center visits
in the two months after writing (r=.40, p<.05), as well as two months to a year post writing
(r=.34, p<.05).

Results for components of optimal emotion representation—attention to affect and
facilitative distance from experience--are shown in Figure 4b.

Attention to Affect

Affect Focal (happy/sad): As Figure 4b shows, no significant correlations of this variable
were found with outcome measures for both groups.
Valence focus (miserable/pleasant): As Figure 4b shows, no significant correlations of
this variable were found with outcome measures for the Expressive Writing group. For the
Control Group, increased use of Valence focus from day 1 to day 2 of writing was related to
decreased reactivity at the final interview, as measured by self-reported stress (SUDS, r=-.40,
p<.05).

maxHRd-0.362*

0.338*Dr12m 0.397*Dr2m

• 0.6


• 0.3

0.0

0.3

0.6

WC(diff) WC(sum) Representations of Self and Emotions (diff) Representations of Self and Emotions (sum) Core Affect (diff) Core Affect (sum)

Control

MEAN

SUDSpk-0.401*

maxHRd0.405*

• Dr12m0.432**


• 0.6


• 0.3

0.0

0.3

0.6

WC(diff) WC(sum) Representations of Self and Emotions (diff) Representations of Self and Emotions (sum) Core Affect (diff) Core Affect (sum)

MEAN Expressive Writing

Figure 4 a: Study 1 ,partialcorrelations,betweenoutcomemeasuresandglobalvariablesofSSWC

(Sundararajan-SchubertWordCount),for(top)Controland(bottom)ExpressiveWritinggroups.

Note.diff=differencescorebetweenthewritingdays(Day 2 – Day 1 ).sum=weightedmeanacrossthewriting

days(Day 1 +Day 2 ).SUDSpk=subjectiveunitsofdistress,peakscore.maxHRd=differenceinmaximumlevel

of heart rate from baseline. Dr 2 m=frequency of doctor’s visit within 2 months post writing.

Dr 12 m=frequencyofdoctor’svisitpostwriting,twomonthstoayear.*p<. 05 ,**p<. 01 ,***p<. 001.