Brief online writing exercise to support individuals living with a stoma

This study is a brief, online expressive writing exercise (based on Pannebaker's expressive writing paradigm) accompanied by one online baseline and two follow-up questionnaires. This study is replicating a study that used self-compassion expressive writing to help reduce body-image distress in breast cancer survivors (Sherman et al., 2018). Before deciding to take part in the study, participants must read the Participant Information Sheet (PIS) and Consent Form. These will be available on our study web page (yet to be designed). After consenting to the study, participants will complete an online baseline questionnaire that will take approx. 15 minutes to complete (though there is no time restriction). It will include demographic information and medical history related to their stoma, followed by questions on various psychological measures (body image, self-compassion, quality of life, depression/ anxiety/ stress, and disgust propensity and sensitivity. The questionnaire (and following writing exercise and follow-up questionnaires can be completed at a device/ computer of the participant's choice). Participants (via REDCap software) will then be randomly allocated to either the intervention writing exercise (condition 1) or the control writing exercise (condition 2) and automatically sent a link to the appropriate exercise. Those in condition 1 will complete the online writing exercise by following six guided self-compassion prompts and write about a negative experience or event they have experienced (i.e. having their stoma constructed). he wording was modified slightly to be relevant to stoma patients (i.e. 'from 'Think about how your body has changed through the experience with a breast cancer diagnosis and treatment' to 'Think about how your body has changed through your experience with having your stoma constructed'). Those in condition 2 will also have prompts to write about a negative event, but these will be generic (i.e. 'Please describe the event further'). Both writing exercises will take up to 30 minutes to complete (depending on participants' typing speed, time spent considering what to write). There is no restriction/ limit on how many words/ characters participants must write. Participants will then be sent follow-up questionnaires (a shortened version of the baseline questionnaire; should take 10 mins max.) one week and one month following the writing exercise. These will also be completed online. The Disgust Propensity and Sensitivity Scale items will not be included in the follow-up questionnaires.