The Effect of Written Emotional Disclosure on Pain-Related Disability Perception and Life Satisfaction in Women with Chronic Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Pilot Study

Aim: The aim of this pilot study was to examine the effects of the Written Emotional Disclosure Paradigm (WEDP) on pain-related disability perception and life satisfaction in women diagnosed with chronic lumbar disc herniation. Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of 20 women aged 18–65 years who had been diagnosed with lumbar disc herniation and had experienced chronic pain for at least six months. Participants were voluntarily assigned to an experimental group (n = 10) or a control group (n = 10). The experimental group completed a structured written emotional disclosure task for 15–20 minutes per day over four consecutive days, focusing on stressful or traumatic experiences. The control group wrote about emotionally neutral daily activities. Data were collected using the Quebec Back Pain Disability Scale and the Satisfaction with Life Scale before the intervention and one month after its completion. Results: Following the intervention, the experimental group demonstrated an increase in life satisfaction scores and a tendency toward reduced pain-related disability perception compared with the control group. However, these changes did not reach statistical significance. Conclusion: Although no statistically significant effects were observed, the findings suggest that written emotional disclosure may have a supportive role in the management of chronic pain. Given the limited sample size, further studies with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are recommended.