Cultural Effects on the Health Benefits of

Personal Disclosure

Jessica WearingMentor: Dr. Eric Knowles

University of California, Irvine

OutlineBackground: The Benefits of Personal

DisclosureBackground: Disclosure Theories and

Relevant Cultural ComparisonsStudy Question and HypothesisMethodsFindingsConclusions

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?

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

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.

MethodsBaseline Observation

SMU Health QuestionnairePittsburg Sleep Quality IndexDepression Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS

21)Demographics Asian Identity Scale

Methods: Writing PromptsExperimental ConditionFor 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 ConditionFor 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.

MethodsFollow-Up Observation

SMU Health QuestionnairePittsburg Sleep Quality IndexDepression Anxiety and Stress Scale

(DASS 21)

Demographics

44%49%

7%

AsianCaucasianHispanic

Findings: LIWC Analysis by Condition

0

1

2

3

4

5

Negative Emotion Insight

Category

% of words in category

TrivialTraumatic

Findings: Effect of Condition on Follow-up Data

marginally significant effectp=.06

00.5

11.5

22.5

33.5

44.5

5

Experimental Control

# ofsymptomsreported atfollow-up

Findings: Cultural Differences in the # of Follow-up Symptoms

0

1

2

3

4

5

6#

of

sym

ptom

s at

fol

low

-up

Caucasian Non-Westernized

Asian

WesternizedAsian

ControlExperimental

ConclusionsDue to the insufficient sample size,

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

Thank You!Dr. KnowlesDr. FrattaroliDr. JennessSE Honors Classmates