When love hurts; the efficacy of structured writing as intervention on anxious relationship beliefs

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of structured writing on anxious relationship beliefs. It was presumed that through a structured writing intervention, which focused on investigating the anxious relationship beliefs and replacing them by more helpful thoughts, the strength and presence of these beliefs would reduce. Also was expected that the intervention would have a positive effect on lifestyle quality. Furthermore an association between relational satisfaction, fear of committing to a relationship, rumination and anxious relationship beliefs was expected. At last a relationship was expected between neuroticism, adult attachment in relationships and anxious relationship beliefs. Participants were all female (N=29), who either were or were not involved in a relationship. They were randomly assigned to the intervention condition (N=10) or the control condition (N=19). The results show a significant stronger decrease of most anxious relationship beliefs in the intervention condition. These results suggest that structured writing assignments, as intervention for people with anxious relationship beliefs, can have a positive effect. Whether or not having a relationship affects the content and level of reduction of the existing anxious relationship beliefs. Furthermore the results show a positive relationship between neuroticism, adult attachment in relationships and anxious relationship beliefs.