The current study was conducted to determine if journaling focused on best possible self and gratitude could improve physiological and mental health outcomes in a sample of affected parents who have teenagers or adult children with emotional and/or behavioral problems. A quasi-experimental, pretest/posttest design was used with blood pressure measure and saliva collection at baseline, after a first journal entry, and after a 6-week journaling intervention. Among 42 parents who completed the pretest, 37 (88.1%) completed the 6-week guided journal and posttest. Findings of paired t tests indicated a statistically significant decrease in stress level (p < 0.001), anxiety (p < 0.001), somatic symptoms (p = 0.001), and depression (p = 0.01), as well as increased gratitude (p = 0.012) among participants. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated the journaling intervention showed a statistically significant reduction in systolic blood pressure (p = 0.016), but not diastolic blood pressure, or cortisol level at the three testing times. [Journal of Psychosocial Nursing and Mental Health Services, 58(9), 31-39.].
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