The experimental group, however, were more likely to have found full time employment. In terms of self-reports, the experimental group reported consuming less alcohol than either of the other two groups. There was no significant difference between the three groups in terms of phone calls made, networking meetings, or letters sent out. The difference appeared to be the value of the diary in working out thoughts and feelings surrounding job loss. It allowed them to work out the negative feelings and to attain closure, thus achieving new perspective.
Job loss can provoke powerful emotions that are sometimes difficult to deal with.
The inhibition of these negative feelings is itself a form of psychological and physiological work. When an individual must actively keep from talking about important feelings, the work of inhibition can result in short term increases in autonomic nervous system activity. And this increase in itself becomes an additional source of stress. A second problem with not dealing emotionally with job loss is that is increases the likelihood of being able to conceptually come to grips with what has happened. This failure increases the likelihood of continued ruminations, which make it more difficult to approach the job market in a positive framework.