Paul Davis is an Associate Professor at the Department of Psychology at Umeå University. His research focuses on emotions and interpersonal relationships in sport, exercise, and health. He has conducted research and consultancy work with a wide range of populations including elite athletes and coaches, the military, chronic pain patients, and performing artists.
Paul Davis has written the article ’Written Emotional Disclosure can Promote Athletes’ Mental Health and Performance Readiness during the COVID-19 Pandemic’, together with Henrik Gustafsson, Karlstad University and Nichola Callow and Tim Woodman, Bangor University, UK. It’s published in ’Frontiers in Psychology’.
Paul Davis, Department of Psychology
ImageMattias PetterssonIt is a form of writing therapy. For over 30 years Written Emotion Disclosure has been used as a method to support the processing of emotions by offering participants an opportunity to systematically express their emotions. In most studies, participants write expressively about an upsetting topic (e.g., previous trauma) for a prescribed duration of time, most often between 15 and 20 min, on three to five occasions over the period of a week, or once a week for a month. It is particularly useful as it is quite flexible to suit the individual completing the writing. A variety of positive psychological outcomes (e.g., reduced stress and anxiety) and physical benefits (e.g., immunological, lung function) have been associated with completing the writing program.
Yes, it was part of my PhD research. I used it with chronic pain patients in supporting their pain management and mental health.
It was suggested that athletes could use journaling during the pandemic as a means of processing their emotions. There is some evidence that journaling is helpful, however there is more research outlining how the systematic protocol of WED is very effective when used in a variety of settings. The protocol has been used with injured athletes and I thought the emotions that athletes were experiencing as a result of the pandemic were likely to be similar as a result of related events (e.g., sudden cancellation of competition, time away from teammates, uncertainty with returning to competition and training).
A strength of Written Emotion Disclosure that it is flexible and can be done almost anywhere, anytime. Although I would recommend that athletes have support available (either professional and/or a good friend to talk to) if they experience strong emotions as a result of completing the writing task. It is found that greater benefits from the writing task can be found when individuals discuss their emotions and experience of the writing with others.
Anytime, Written Emotion Disclosure is well suited for a number of different circumstances that are arising from the pandemic. It can be tailored (adapted) to a variety of situations to promote both the management of emotions during the stoppage of sport (e.g., boredom, loneliness) as well as when sport begins to start again (e.g., fear of travel, uncertainty regarding being ready to compete).
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.599925/full
