Writing about the disrupted self: a randomized controlled trial of a structured online expressive writing intervention for bereaved Chinese adults

Background: Disruption and restoration of the self are theorized to be central to bereavement adjustment, yet previous interventions rarely address self-disruption directly. This study examined whether an online expressive writing intervention targeting self-disruption could alleviate grief symptoms in bereaved adults. Methods: In a two-arm randomized controlled trial, 66 bereaved participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group (n = 35) or a waitlist control group (n = 31). The intervention consisted of six sessions (one psychoeducational session and five structured expressive writing sessions) over three weeks, focusing on four aspects of self-disruption, namely: Loss of Self-Direction, Self-Derailment, Self-Devaluation, and Disconnection of Relational-Self. Grief severity was assessed using the PG-13-R at baseline and post-intervention, with a six-month follow-up for the intervention group. Results: Compared with the waitlist control group, the intervention group showed a significantly greater reduction in grief severity (Cohen’s d = − 0.93). Within the intervention group, the improvement remained stable at the six-month follow-up. Conclusion: Online expressive writing targeting self-disruption in bereaved adults may provide an effective, low-cost, and scalable intervention for grief. However, in the absence of a validated measure of self-disruption, whether the intervention exerts its effects through changes in the self remains untested. Trial registration: This trial was retrospectively registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Registration Number ChiCTR2600120661, Date 18.03.2026).