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Two Modes of Reflection: How Temporal, Spatial, and Social Distances Affect Reflective Writing in Family Caregiving

Shunpei Norihama, Yuka Iwane, Jo Takezawa, Simo Hosio, Mari Hirano, Naomi Yamashita, Koji Yatani

TL;DR

Family caregivers face high stress and identity strain, and reflective writing can help but timing is critical. This study combines Construal Level Theory with a micro-randomized trial using a LINE chatbot to deliver prompts and record temporal, spatial, and social distances, revealing two distinct reflective modes: Mode P (proximal, emotion-focused) and Mode D (distal, analytic). The findings show distance modulates content, experience, and perceived stress relief, with proximal prompts enhancing emotional release and distal prompts enabling cognitive reappraisal. The work provides empirical evidence and design guidance for distance-aware Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions to support caregiver mental health in mobile health contexts.

Abstract

Writing about personal experiences can improve well-being, but for family caregivers, fixed or user-initiated schedules often miss the right moments. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, we conducted a three-week field study with 47 caregivers using a chatbot that delivered daily reflective writing prompts and captured temporal, spatial, and social contexts. We collected 958 writing entries, resulting in 5,412 coded segments. Our Analysis revealed two reflective modes. Under proximal conditions, participants produced detailed, emotion-rich, and care recipient-focused narratives that supported emotional release. Under distal conditions, they generated calmer, self-focused, and analytic accounts that enabled objective reflection and cognitive reappraisal. Participants described trade-offs: proximity preserved vivid detail but limited objectivity, while distance enabled analysis but risked memory loss. This work contributes empirical evidence of how psychological distances shape reflective writing and proposes design implications for distance-aware Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions for family caregivers' mental health support.

Two Modes of Reflection: How Temporal, Spatial, and Social Distances Affect Reflective Writing in Family Caregiving

TL;DR

Family caregivers face high stress and identity strain, and reflective writing can help but timing is critical. This study combines Construal Level Theory with a micro-randomized trial using a LINE chatbot to deliver prompts and record temporal, spatial, and social distances, revealing two distinct reflective modes: Mode P (proximal, emotion-focused) and Mode D (distal, analytic). The findings show distance modulates content, experience, and perceived stress relief, with proximal prompts enhancing emotional release and distal prompts enabling cognitive reappraisal. The work provides empirical evidence and design guidance for distance-aware Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions to support caregiver mental health in mobile health contexts.

Abstract

Writing about personal experiences can improve well-being, but for family caregivers, fixed or user-initiated schedules often miss the right moments. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, we conducted a three-week field study with 47 caregivers using a chatbot that delivered daily reflective writing prompts and captured temporal, spatial, and social contexts. We collected 958 writing entries, resulting in 5,412 coded segments. Our Analysis revealed two reflective modes. Under proximal conditions, participants produced detailed, emotion-rich, and care recipient-focused narratives that supported emotional release. Under distal conditions, they generated calmer, self-focused, and analytic accounts that enabled objective reflection and cognitive reappraisal. Participants described trade-offs: proximity preserved vivid detail but limited objectivity, while distance enabled analysis but risked memory loss. This work contributes empirical evidence of how psychological distances shape reflective writing and proposes design implications for distance-aware Just-in-Time Adaptive Interventions for family caregivers' mental health support.

Paper Structure

This paper contains 51 sections, 1 figure, 24 tables.

Table of Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Related Work
  3. Mental Health Challenges of Family Caregiving
  4. Therapeutic Writing for Mental Well-being
  5. Differentiating Reflection from Rumination: Gibbs’ Reflective Cycle
  6. Construal Level Theory (CLT)
  7. The Timing of Digital Interventions for Reflective Writing
  8. Study Design
  9. System Implementation
  10. Momentary Stress Reports
  11. Daily Writing & Situation Assessment
  12. Situational Factors
  13. Spatial Distance
  14. Social Distance
  15. Procedure
  16. ...and 36 more sections

Figures (1)

  • Figure 1: Screenshots of our system were originally in Japanese; we translated them for this paper. (a) ESM asked users to rate their current stress level towards care recipients in the scale of 1 -- 5. (b) After their response, the system confirmed with options to 'yes' or 'edit.' (c) During reflective writing, a message requested users on when to reflect. (d) Pressing 'Start Reflection' provided a writing guide. After the entry, ESM addressed (e) spatial distance and (f) caregiving involvement as social distance.