Cultural Effects on the Health Benefits of Personal Disclosure Jessica Wearing Mentor: Dr. Eric Knowles University of California, Irvine

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Cultural Effects on the Health Benefits of
Personal DisclosureJessica WearingMentor Dr.
Eric KnowlesUniversity of California, Irvine
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Outline

• Background The Benefits of Personal Disclosure
• Background Disclosure Theories and Relevant
  Cultural Comparisons
• Study Question and Hypothesis
• Methods
• Findings
• Conclusions

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Background The Benefits of Personal Disclosure

• 1. What is personal disclosure?
• 2. What are the benefits associated with personal
  disclosure?
• 3. Are the benefits the same across cultures?

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Background Disclosure Theories and Relevant
Cultural Comparisons

• Disclosure Theories
• Social Integration Theory
• Cognitive Processing Theory
• Disinhibition Theory
• Self-regulation Theory
• Exposure Theory
• Cultural differences in the demands of speech
• Cultural differences in social support seeking

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Study Question and Hypothesis

• Question Are the health benefits observed in
  relation to personal disclosure a function of
  basic human nature, or are they culturally bound?
• Hypothesis As a group, East Asians will be less
  likely to benefit from personal disclosure than
  their Western counterparts.

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Methods

• Baseline Observation
• SMU Health Questionnaire
• Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index
• Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21)
• Demographics
• Asian Identity Scale

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Methods Writing Prompts

• Experimental Condition
• For the next 20 minutes, I would like for you to
  write about your very deepest thoughts and
  feelings about the most traumatic experience of
  your entire life . . .
• Control Condition
• For the next 20 minutes, please write about your
  day so far. Focus on topics such as the weather,
  your routine, and minor happenings. Try to avoid
  emotional commentary.

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Methods

• Follow-Up Observation
• SMU Health Questionnaire
• Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index
• Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS 21)

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Demographics
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Findings LIWC Analysis by Condition
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Findings Effect of Condition on Follow-up Data

• marginally significant effect
• p.06

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Findings Cultural Differences in the of
Follow-up Symptoms
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Conclusions

• Due to the insufficient sample size, firm
  conclusions cannot be reached, however, there is
  sufficient evidence to question the cultural
  universality of disclosure benefits.

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Thank You!

• Dr. Knowles
• Dr. Frattaroli
• Dr. Jenness
• SE Honors Classmates