A Community-based Video-conference-delivered Expressive Writing Intervention for Caregivers of Persons With Cancer

Detailed Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test the effects of an expressive writing intervention for caregivers of persons with cancer. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does participation in a group-based, videoconference-delivered expressive writing intervention improve mood and quality of life for caregivers of persons with cancer? 2. Is greater improvement associated with writing that is more emotionally expressive or personally revealing, or with group-based sessions characterized by certain linguistic features such as greater emotionality? 3. Is benefit greater for certain subgroups of caregivers, such as those who are younger or who identify as female in gender? Participants will be asked to join four videoconference-delivered, group-based expressive writing sessions. This will be done in groups of 4-8 caregivers and led by a trained facilitator. During each session, participants will write about their deepest thoughts and feelings about their loved one's cancer and their experiences as a caregiver. They will then discuss as a group any reactions to the writing process. Participants will be randomly assigned to either active intervention (receiving the intervention as soon as a group is formed) or waitlist control. Researchers will compare active and waitlist control participants on to pre- to post-intervention changes in mood and quality of life.

Study Details

Timeline

Interventions