What do we know about expressive writing interventions in helping professions? A focused bibliometric review.

Authors

Fulvio Signore, Alessia Anna Catalano, Carmela Buono, Domenico Fabio Cuzzola, Chiara Fioretti, Venusia Covelli, Paola Pasca

Published in

Journal of health psychology. Pages 13591053261499814. Oct 28, 2026. Epub Oct 28, 2026.

Abstract

Expressive writing is widely studied as a psychological intervention supporting emotional processing and well-being, but research involving helping professionals remains limited. This bibliometric study traces the development of scientific production in this area and maps its conceptual structure. A Scopus search identified 167 records, of which 20 documents published between 2009 and 2026 were retained after a PRISMA-based screening. The analysis reveals a small, recently expanding field, with continuous annual publication only since 2021 and output concentrated among a few authors, research groups, journals, and countries, particularly Italy. Its conceptual structure centers on emotional processing and psychological and occupational adjustment, linking burnout, compassion fatigue, coping, job satisfaction, and well-being across palliative care, intensive care, and pandemic-related healthcare contexts. Overall, the field remains context-bound and unevenly developed, highlighting the need for stronger methodological consistency, broader professional and cultural representation, and greater attention to organizational conditions, implementation, and cross-context comparability.

PMID:
42949254
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 28 Oct 2026.

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