Diary-Writing Has Psychological Benefits - Journal of Happiness Studies

Writing has long been used as a coping strategy and has been applied to improve psychological well-being. One study found that suicidal poets used more first-person singular pronouns (I, me, my) than the control group of poets.

This study from Taiwan, published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, investigated the psychological displacement paradigm in diary-writing (PDPD) and its supposed psychological benefits.

Study participants were randomly assigned to write about their recent negative life experiences two times a week for 2 weeks in PDPD group (diary-writing), or comparison group (no diary-writing).

The diary-writing group (PDPD) showed a decrease in negative emotion and an increase in positive emotion immediately after each writing session (short term effect).

They also had an increase in psychological well-being for at least 2 weeks (long term effect).

References:

The Psychological Displacement Paradigm in Diary-Writing (PDPD) and its Psychological Benefits. Jen-Ho Chang, Chin-Lan Huang and Yi-Cheng Lin. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES 2012, DOI: 10.1007/s10902-012-9321-y

Comments from Google Plus and Twitter:

Lin W: I guess blog writing might have the same effect?

Ves Dimov, M.D.: It depends on the type of blogging you do, but yes, blogging can be a positive experience too.

Dr. Amal Hasan @DrFloona: Diary-Writing Has Psychological Benefits bit.ly/wwMDmr” Until someone else reads it

Dean Giustini @giustini: Diary-Writing Has Psychological Benefits bit.ly/wwMDmr [Isn't this why we blog Ves?]

@DrVes: Well, I'm not sure. I don't blog about "negative experiences". Blog = archive for me

Formula for Happiness = S (Set range, personal biology) + C (Circumstances) + V (Voluntary control)

Martin Seligman, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, has proposed a formula for the causes of happiness that accounts for stable and variable components of long-term happiness; H (enduring level of happiness) = S (personal set range) + C (circumstances) + V (factors under personal voluntary control).

Voluntary/intentional activities have similar level of influence (40%) compared to genetic set-point for happiness (50%)

The happiness set-point (estimated influence 50 %) “is genetically determined and assumed to be fixed, stable over time, and immune to the influence of control”.

Circumstances' estimated influence is only 10 %. These include the geographical region where a person resides, demographic factors such as age and gender, and major life-status factors such as marriage, and being sufficiently wealthy.

Intentional Activities' estimated influence is 40 %. Activities are more controllable than genetic factors, personality and most circumstances and offer the greatest potential to sustainably increase happiness. They have similar level of influence (40%) compared to the genetic set-point for happiness (50%).

Happiness enhancing strategies fall into 3 activity types:

1. Behavioral activity reflects a person’s actions:

- physical activities
- meditation and mindfulness
- social activities such as deliberate acts of kindness and gratitude

2. Cognitive activity indicates a person’s attitudes:

- cultivating gratitude
- forgiveness
- cognitive approaches to coping with adversity

3. Volitional activity is motivated towards achieving goals:

- pursuing goals that are concordant with one’s values and interests
- maintaining hope
- meaning in life

The dominance of social relationships for happiness

In a recent study, the most striking finding was the dominance of the Social Relationships dimension. People are happier when they are around others and relationships are necessary for happiness.

Therefore, individuals pursuing happiness should spend time and energy developing and maintaining their relationships. Does that involve online relationships developed via Twitter and Facebook?

A recipe for long-lasting happiness

Happy people are those who:

- are involved in a number of close relationships and practice their social values
- do not overrate the importance of circumstances or spend undue energy striving for circumstantial change
- enjoy satisfying and active leisure pursuits
- pursue (behavioral) activities and (cognitive) attitudes that are rewarding and in line with their broader sense of purpose
- have a philosophy of living that helps them to navigate life’s complexities

“Optimism is the belief that good things will happen to you and that negative events are temporary setbacks to be overcome” - a classical definition from the Mayo Clinic (http://goo.gl/wZ6Rh)

References:

Exploring the Causes of Subjective Well-Being: A Content Analysis of Peoples’ Recipes for Long-Term Happiness. Journal Journal of Happiness Studies, 2012. http://goo.gl/kN5OQ
Image source: OpenClipArt.org, public domain.

Social relations as a primary factor for children’s happiness

The relation between the global happiness and school-related happiness of 700 12-year-old Finnish students was examined.

The results showed a strong relationship between happiness and social relationships.

The most popular choices of the happiness increasing factors were:

- success in school
- more free time
- success in a hobby

The least happy students more often than others wanted to have:

- more friends
- better looks
- more money
- a peaceful family life

The results confirm safe social relations as a primary factor underlying children’s happiness.

References:

Global and School-Related Happiness in Finnish Children. JOURNAL OF HAPPINESS STUDIES, 2011.

Comments from Google Plus:

Howard Luks - Our children's lives are far too structured and planned. We have a neighborhood full of young children, yet we are the only ones outside playing. Others are being shuttled to this and that, etc... sad. Let them learn, let them explore, let them socialize and start to cultivate the skills that will last them a lifetime... all IMHO +Wendy Sue Swanson thoughts?

Ves Dimov - Let kids be kids: unstructured play time may be more important than homework

http://casesblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/let-kids-be-kids-unstructured-play-time.html

Howard Luks - Couldn't agree more. Love how you find your links so fast :-)

Ves Dimov - My blog is my searchable archive... And the word "unstructured" rang a bell... :)

Wendy Sue Swanson - I like this thinking. I like the freedom to imagine that children will have space to remain present in their moments, that they'll consider the future without boundaries like they can when roaming in the yard. The structured and planned is becoming a norm---but there is resistance and more and more, parents are thinking about leaving their kids to the space and time they were afforded. With all of the parenting advice that is ever-present, it's hard for some parents to turn it off and tune back into their instincts. When you hear about the necessities of children learning 3 languages before age 7 (because the brain is primed until that age, thereafter it's far more difficult) it's hard not to jump in the car to the language school. This is the curse of more and more research--we get misdirected. We feel we can "perfect parenting." We forget we need time to stare up at the sky...time in the backyard with our hands in the sand and our brother at our side. We need to be able to remember that when life is still and we reflect on what matters, it's unlikely to be the language lesson.

5 factors define happiness at work

Research on psychological well-being at work (PWBW) is challenging.

Factor analysis revealed that psychological well-being at work can be conceptualized through 5 dimensions:

- Interpersonal Fit
- Thriving
- Feeling of Competency
- Desire for Involvement
- Perceived Recognition

This also applies to the training of medical residents and fellows. It is important to create an environment that promotes collaboration and personal growth, while avoiding exhaustion and finger pointing.

References:

What is Psychological Well-Being, Really? A Grassroots Approach from the Organizational Sciences. Véronique Dagenais-Desmarais and André Savoie. Journal of Happiness Studies, 2011.