Abstract

Objectives. Written benefit finding is known to improve psychological and physical health in a range of patient groups. Here, we tested the efficacy of written benefit finding, delivered online during the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown, on mood and physical symptoms. We also investigated perseverative thinking as a moderator of these effects. Design. A quantitative longitudinal design was employed. Main Outcome Measures. Participants (n = 91) completed self-report measures of anxiety, depression, stress and physical symptoms at baseline, and two weeks after being randomised to complete three consecutive days of writing about the positive thoughts and feelings they experienced during the pandemic (written benefit finding) or to unemotively describe the events of the previous day (control). State anxiety was measured immediately before and after writing. Perseverative thinking was measured at baseline. Results. Anxiety and depression symptoms decreased between baseline and the two week follow-up, but did not differ significantly between the two conditions. Perseverative thinking was negatively associated with changes in symptoms of anxiety, depression and stress, but did not moderate any writing effects. There was a significant reduction in state anxiety in the written benefit finding condition. Conclusions. Written benefit finding may be a useful intervention for short-term improvements in wellbeing.

摘要

目标。众所周知，书面的益处发现可以改善一系列患者群体的心理和身体健康。在这里，我们测试了在 Covid-19 大流行封锁期间在线提供的书面利益发现对情绪和身体症状的功效。我们还调查了作为这些影响的调节者的坚持不懈的想法。设计。采用定量纵向设计。主要成果措施。参与者（n  = 91) 在基线和两周后完成了焦虑、抑郁、压力和身体症状的自我报告测量，并在被随机分配以完成连续三天的关于他们在大流行期间所经历的积极想法和感受的写作（书面获益发现）或不带感情地描述前一天发生的事情（对照）。在写作前后立即测量状态焦虑。坚持不懈的思维是在基线测量的。结果。焦虑和抑郁症状在基线和两周随访期间有所减少，但两种情况之间没有显着差异。坚持不懈的思考与焦虑、抑郁和压力症状的变化呈负相关，但不会减轻任何写作效果。书面受益发现条件下的状态焦虑显着减少。结论。书面的利益发现可能是短期改善幸福感的有用干预措施。