TY - JOUR
T1 - Finding happiness in negative emotions
T2 - An experimental test of a novel expressive writing paradigm
AU - North, Rebecca J.
AU - Pai, Anushka V.
AU - Hixon, J. Gregory
AU - Holahan, Charles J.
PY - 2011/5
Y1 - 2011/5
N2 - Using an experimental writing design, this study pitted a novel emotion regulation strategy, integrating psychological acceptance and positive reappraisal, against two established strategies for increasing psychological well-being: emotional disclosure (Pennebaker, 1997) and positive reappraisal (DeNeve & Cooper, 1998; Gross & John, 2003). 315 undergraduate students wrote on four consecutive days about the biggest problem in their lives and were randomly assigned to use one of the three strategies: (1) emotional disclosure, (2) positive reappraisal, or (3) acceptance + positive reappraisal. Results indicated that the integrative condition led to optimal emotional well-being outcomes at post-intervention, including: greater happiness and positive emotions, marginally fewer negative emotions, and greater overall psychological acceptance. Findings indicate that accepting one's negative emotions and then trying to seek out positives might be an optimal strategy for building happiness.
AB - Using an experimental writing design, this study pitted a novel emotion regulation strategy, integrating psychological acceptance and positive reappraisal, against two established strategies for increasing psychological well-being: emotional disclosure (Pennebaker, 1997) and positive reappraisal (DeNeve & Cooper, 1998; Gross & John, 2003). 315 undergraduate students wrote on four consecutive days about the biggest problem in their lives and were randomly assigned to use one of the three strategies: (1) emotional disclosure, (2) positive reappraisal, or (3) acceptance + positive reappraisal. Results indicated that the integrative condition led to optimal emotional well-being outcomes at post-intervention, including: greater happiness and positive emotions, marginally fewer negative emotions, and greater overall psychological acceptance. Findings indicate that accepting one's negative emotions and then trying to seek out positives might be an optimal strategy for building happiness.
KW - Acceptance
KW - Expressive writing
KW - Happiness
KW - Negative emotions
KW - Positive emotions
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80053228052&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1080/17439760.2011.570365
DO - 10.1080/17439760.2011.570365
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:80053228052
SN - 1743-9760
VL - 6
SP - 192
EP - 203
JO - Journal of Positive Psychology
JF - Journal of Positive Psychology
IS - 3
ER -