An Experimental Study on the Effectiveness of Disclosing Stressful Life Events and Support Messages: When Cognitive Reappraisal Support Decreases Emotional Distress, and Emotional Support Is Like Saying Nothing at All

How can we best support others in difficult times? Studies testing the effects of supportive communication revealed mixed findings. The current study focuses on the effects of supportive communication following different disclosure styles, and includes outcome measures to assess emotional well-being. Hypotheses were tested in a 2 (disclosure style: cognitive reappraisal disclosure vs. emotional disclosure) ×3 (support message: cognitive reappraisal response vs. socio-affective response vs. no response) between subjects factorial design. Receiving a cognitive reappraisal response, rather than a socio-affective response or no response, decreased emotional distress in the emotional disclosure group. Support messages showed no effects in the cognitive reappraisal disclosure group. Although socio-affective responses were positively evaluated, cognitive reappraisal responses may be more effective during emotional upheaval because they provide a positive way out of negative emotions.我们应如何在他人身处困境时提供最恰当的支持？过往针对支持性沟通（supportive communication）效果开展的研究，所得结论并不一致。本研究聚焦于不同自我表露风格下支持性沟通的效果，并纳入了评估情绪幸福感（emotional well-being）的结果测量指标。本研究采用2（自我表露风格：认知重评型表露（cognitive reappraisal disclosure）vs.情绪表露（emotional disclosure））×3（支持性信息：认知重评回应（cognitive reappraisal response）vs.社会情感回应（socio-affective response）vs.无回应）的被试间析因设计对研究假设进行检验。在情绪表露组中，相较于接收社会情感回应或无回应，接收认知重评回应可降低个体的情绪困扰水平。在认知重评型表露组中，各类支持性信息均未产生显著效果。尽管社会情感回应获得了正向评价，但在情绪剧变期间，认知重评回应或更为有效——因其可为个体脱离负面情绪提供积极路径。