Expressive Writing on Stress-Related and Work-Related Outcomes Among Chinese Nursing Interns

Effects of Expressive Writing on Stress-Related and Work-Related Outcomes Among Chinese Nursing Interns: a Randomized Controlled Trial

The goal of this interventional study is to assess the effects of an intervention on stress-related and work-related outcomes among Chinese nursing interns. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does expressive writing reduce clinical practice stress and improve coping strategies in nursing interns?
• Does expressive writing increase work engagement and perceived professional benefit among nursing interns?

Participants in the intervention group and control group will perform expressive writing and neutral writing, respectively, based on different given instructions. In both groups, writing will last for 10-15 minutes each time, twice a week, for nine weeks.

Researchers will compare the outcomes of the two groups to see if there are differences between clinical practice stress, coping strategies, work engagement, and perceived professional benefit.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Undergraduate nursing interns with no prior clinical practice experience.
• Be willing to fill in questionnaires and write according to the assigned writing prompts.
• Have never participated in writing therapy or stress management intervention programs.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Refuse to participate.
• Have severe psychiatric conditions.
• Undergoing any form of psychotherapy.
• With a habit of keeping diaries.

Withdrawal criteria:

• Termination of internship for whatever reason.
• Do not submit writing materials twice.