Exploring the Role of Expectancies in the Mental and Physical Health Outcomes of Written Self-Disclosure

Emotional self-disclosure yields mental and physical health benefits. Methods for enhancing this intervention have largely been ignored in the literature. Building from research that indicates that expectations play a role in self-disclosure's outcomes, the current research examined expectations and self-disclosure. Health outcomes were assessed in 40 female college students who participated in a written self-disclosure exercise for 15 minutes for 3 consecutive days. In order to determine the interactive influence of self-disclosure and expectancy on mental and physical health outcomes, participants self-disclosed a traumatic or trivial topic and the researchers attempted to manipulate participants' expectancies concerning the benefits produced by self-disclosure. Women who disclosed traumas and were given the expectancy that disclosure would yield benefits had decreased interpersonal sensitivity and interpersonal alienation 1 month after disclosure. Limitations and recommendations are discussed. Creating positive expectations may represent a method for enhancing the positive effects of emotional expression.