Effectiveness of expressive writing therapy for postpartum women with psychological distress: Meta-analysis and narrative review.

Background: The increasing prevalence of psychological distress among mothers is outpacing the effectiveness of conventional coping methods like cognitive behavioral therapy. The efficacy of alternatives such as writing therapy for maternal psychological well-being remains uncertain due to a lack of extensive research and inconsistent findings.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of expressive writing therapy in comparison to standard postpartum care for alleviating psychological distress, encompassing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or stress, in postpartum women.