Abstract
Those diagnosed with cancer not only suffer from the disease itself, but also psychological distress, including feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and depression. Writing groups have been found to positively impact attendees’ well-being, including decreasing anxiety, depression, and other psychological symptoms. Despite the benefits of writing groups, little research examines the impact of cancer survivors attending writing groups. This study utilized previous literature to create a curriculum for a writing group specifically for cancer survivors. This curriculum was then pilot tested with a group of cancer survivors in May and June of 2022. Psychological symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress were measured at three different intervals throughout the six-week writing group. Findings included a significant decrease in psychological distress measures, including significant decreases in anxiety, depression, and stress scores for the majority of participants. This study provides all the necessary information for other facilitators to implement the curriculum and group structure and promote healing in their communities. More research is needed to fully determine the scope of healing writing groups can provide vulnerable populations, such as cancer survivors.
Recommended Citation
Normand, Cassandra M.
(2024)
"A Proposal: Healing Impacts of Writing Groups on Cancer Survivors,"
Journal of Creative Writing Studies: Vol. 9:
Iss.
1, Article 4.
Available at:
https://repository.rit.edu/jcws/vol9/iss1/4