Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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This project evaluates the effectiveness of an intervention sought to reduce the physical effects of stress related to those issues that individuals cannot successfully communicate with anyone about. To do this, the investigators will be implementing a writing intervention over the course of the 6-week study. The investigators will be asking all participants to complete questionnaires over the course of the study period. The investigators are also asking participants to provide a small blood sample (from a fingerstick procedure) at two times during the study as well as saliva samples during that same time. The primary research question asks if this intervention procedure is effective. The investigators are evaluating total cholesterol, high sensitivity c-reactive protein, and cortisol.

Official Title
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Evaluating an Expressive Writing Intervention About Communicatively-Restricted Organizational Stressors: A Six-Week Randomized, Controlled Trial

Conditions
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Stress Disorder

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Expressive Writing


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: 110 pounds in weight Ability to fast for 8 hours prior to laboratory visit Staff member at Santa Clara University Certain level of inclusionary pretest stress measure Exclusion Criteria: Hepatitis Endocrine Disease Kidney or Liver Disease Cancer (in any form) Cushing's disorder Rheumatological disorders Respiratory Disorders Diabetes High blood pressure Low blood pressure Heart or cardiovascular problems Chemotherapy Current use of alpha or beta blockers, steroids, or hormone replacements Pregnant and/or breastfeeding mothers

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 65 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Expressive Writing<br>Affectionate Writing Intervention for 20 minutes per day, 2 times per week, 6 weeks. | Other: Expressive Writing<br>* Writing intervention for cognitive appraisal of stressor.<br>|
| No Intervention: No writing<br>Control Group -- No writing | |

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Lipids from baseline | Lipid panel includes total cholesterol, High-density lipoproteins, low-density lipoprotein, and triglycerides. | Week 1 and Week 6 | 
| Change in high-sensitivity c-Reactive Protein from baseline |  | Week 1 and Week 6 | 
| Change in Cortisol Awakening Response from Baseline | Measurement of Salivary Cortisol (hydrocortisone, compound-F) as a maximum difference between awakening and 30 minutes after awakening. | Week 1 and Week 6 | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change in Perceived Global Stress over time | Psychological measure of stress | Week 1, Week 3, Week 6 | 
| Change in Organizational Stress over time | Psychological measure of stress as a function of organizational involvement. | Week 1, Week 3, Week 6 | 
| Change in Perception of Communication Restriction of Stressor over time | Restrictedness of a communicative stressor | Week 1, Week 3, Week 6 |