Peeling Back the Layers: How Expressive Writing about Heterosexist Events Benefits Sexual Minority Adults

ABSTRACT

Expressive writing exercises, in which participants self-reflect upon a difficult experience, are widely researched interventions. These exercises have been adapted to address a host of concerns, including trauma, mental distress, physical health, and minority stress. Although several theories exist about the mechanisms through which expressive writing yields psychological benefits, the direct perspectives of those who have completed expressive writing exercise has remained unexplored. This study used grounded theory methods to analyze sexual minority adults’ interviews about their experience of engaging in various formats of expressive writing exercises about personal heterosexist events. Participants described both what they found helpful and frustrating about the writing process and reflected on how their perspectives shifted throughout the process. These findings contribute to the literature on how change occurs in expressive writing and provide guidance on how to assist sexual minority adults in healing from heterosexism in their lives.

KEYWORDS:

• Expressive writing
• heterosexism
• sexual minority stress
• qualitative
• grounded theory

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Michael Sullivan Diversity Scholarship through Division 31 of the American Psychological Association.